D ISABILITIES OF THE A RM , S HOULDER AND H AND

THE
DASH

INSTRUCTIONS

This questionnaire asks about your

symptoms as well as your ability to
perform certain activities.

Please answer every question, based

on your condition in the last week,
by circling the appropriate number.

If you did not have the opportunity

to perform an activity in the past
week, please make your best estimate
on which response would be the
most accurate.

It doesn’t matter which hand or arm

you use to perform the activity; please
answer based on your ability regardless
of how you perform the task.
 D ISABILITIES OF THE A RM , S HOULDER AND H AND

Please rate your ability to do the following activities in the last week by circling the number below the appropriate response.

NO MILD MODERATE SEVERE

UNABLE
DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY

1. Open a tight or new jar. 1 2 3 4 5

2. Write. 1 2 3 4 5

3. Turn a key. 1 2 3 4 5

4. Prepare a meal. 1 2 3 4 5

5. Push open a heavy door. 1 2 3 4 5

6. Place an object on a shelf above your head. 1 2 3 4 5

7. Do heavy household chores (e.g., wash walls, floors). 1 2 3 4 5

wash
8. Garden or do yard work. 1 2 3 4 5

9. Make a bed. 1 2 3 4 5

10. Carry a shopping bag or briefcase. 1 2 3 4 5

11. Carry a heavy object (over 10 lbs). 1 2 3 4 5

12. Change a lightbulb overhead. 1 2 3 4 5

13. Wash or blow dry your hair. 1 2 3 4 5

14. Wash your back. 1 2 3 4 5

15. Put on a pullover sweater. 1 2 3 4 5

16. Use a knife to cut food. 1 2 3 4 5

17. Recreational activities which require little effort

(e.g., cardplaying, knitting, etc.). 1 2 3 4 5

18. Recreational activities in which you take some force

or impact through your arm, shoulder or hand
(e.g., golf, hammering, tennis, etc.). 1 2 3 4 5

19. Recreational activities in which you move your

arm freely (e.g., playing frisbee, badminton, etc.). 1 2 3 4 5

20. Manage transportation needs

(getting from one place to another). 1 2 3 4 5

21. Sexual activities. 1 2 3 4 5

 D ISABILITIES OF THE A RM , S HOULDER AND H AND

QUITE
NOT AT ALL SLIGHTLY MODERATELY A BIT EXTREMELY

22. During the past week, to what extent has your arm,
shoulder or hand problem interfered with your normal
social activities with family, friends, neighbours or groups?
(circle number) 1 2 3 4 5

NOT LIMITED SLIGHTLY MODERATELY VERY

AT ALL LIMITED LIMITED LIMITED UNABLE

23. During the past week, were you limited in your

work or other regular daily activities as a result of
your arm,
shoulder or hand problem? (circle number) 1 2 3 4 5

Please rate the severity of the following symptoms in the last week. (circle number)

NONE MILD MODERATE SEVERE EXTREME

24. Arm, shoulder or hand pain. 1 2 3 4 5

25. Arm, shoulder or hand pain when you performed any specific activity.
1 2 3 4 5

26. Tingling (pins and needles) in your arm, shoulder or hand. 1 2 3 4 5

27. Weakness in your arm, shoulder or hand. 1 2 3 4 5

28. Stiffness in your arm, shoulder or hand. 1 2 3 4 5

NO MILD MODERATE SEVERE

DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY

SO MUCH
DIFFICULTY
THAT I
CAN’T SLEEP

29. During the past week, how much difficulty have you had
sleeping because of the pain in your arm, shoulder or hand?
(circle number) 1 2 3 4 5

STRONGLY
DISAGREE

NEITHER AGREE AGREE STRONGLY

NOR DISAGREE AGREE
DISAGREE
30. I feel less capable, less confident or less useful
because of my arm, shoulder or hand problem.
(circle number) 1 2 3 4 5

DASH DISABILITY/SYMPTOM SCORE = [(sum of n responses) - 1] x 25, where n is equal to the number of completed responses.
 n
A DASH score may not be calculated if there are greater than 3 missing
items.
 D ISABILITIES OF THE A RM , S HOULDER AND H AND

WORK MODULE (OPTIONAL)

The following questions ask about the impact of your arm, shoulder or hand problem on your ability to work (including home-
making if that is your main work role).
Please indicate what your job/work is:
❐ I do not work. (You may skip this section.)

Please circle the number that best describes your physical ability in the past week. Did you have any difficulty:

NO MILD MODERATE SEVERE

DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY UNABLE

1. using your usual technique for your work? 1 2 3 4 5

2. doing your usual work because of

arm, shoulder or hand pain? 1 2 3 4 5

3. doing your work as well as you would like? 1 2 3 4 5

4. spending your usual amount of time doing your work? 1 2 3 4 5

SPORTS/PERFORMING ARTS MODULE (OPTIONAL)

The following questions relate to the impact of your arm, shoulder or hand problem on playing your musical instrument or sport
or both. If you play more than one sport or instrument (or play both), please answer with respect to that activity which is most
important to you.
Please indicate the sport or instrument which is most important to you:
❏ I do not play a sport or an instrument. (You may skip this section.)

Please circle the number that best describes your physical ability in the past week. Did you have any difficulty:

NO MILD MODERATE SEVERE

DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY UNABLE

1. using your usual technique for playing your

instrument or sport? 1 2 3 4 5

2. playing your musical instrument or sport because

of arm, shoulder or hand pain? 1 2 3 4 5

3. playing your musical instrument or sport

as well as you would like? 1 2 3 4 5

4. spending your usual amount of time

practising or playing your instrument or sport? 1 2 3 4 5

SCORING THE OPTIONAL MODULES: Add up assigned values for each response;
divide by 4 (number of items); subtract 1; multiply by 25.
An optional module score may not be calculated if there are any missing items.

© INSTITUTE FOR WORK & HEALTH 2006. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.