DASH Upper Extremity Outcome Measure

Use it at an initial evaluation, reassessment, discharge, or any visit where you need a repeatable upper-extremity function score. It is designed for arm, shoulder, and hand complaints, so it works well when you want the patient’s own report of daily activity limits. If the visit is not related to upper-extremity function, this template is probably not the right fit.

The patient should complete the questionnaire items whenever possible, with the clinician reviewing and documenting the score and follow-up plan. If the patient needs help because of pain, language, or accessibility barriers, staff can assist while preserving the patient’s responses. Keep any assistance consistent so the score remains comparable across visits.

Repeat it on a cadence that matches your care plan, such as at evaluation and at planned reassessments. The main goal is to compare the same measure over time, so use the same version and scoring approach each time. Avoid changing the questions or response scale between visits, or the trend becomes hard to interpret.

It fits common upper-extremity conditions such as shoulder strain, rotator cuff issues, hand injury, wrist pain, tendon problems, and post-operative follow-up. The template includes a diagnosis category and an optional other diagnosis field so you can keep the record structured without forcing a narrow list. If the condition is outside arm, shoulder, or hand function, choose a different outcome measure.

A common mistake is leaving the assessment type or body region unclear, which makes later comparisons less useful. Another is collecting more detail than needed in free-text fields instead of using the structured questionnaire and score. It also helps to document what happens after the score is reviewed, rather than stopping at the number.

Yes, but keep the core DASH items and scoring logic intact if you want comparable results over time. You can add clinic-specific notes, referral triggers, or a follow-up plan field, but avoid changing the meaning of the response options. If you need branching for different visit types, use conditional logic rather than adding extra visible fields for every patient.

An ad hoc note can describe symptoms, but it is harder to compare across visits and providers. This template gives you a consistent structure for the same questions, the same score, and the same follow-up documentation. That makes it easier to track change, hand off care, and review outcomes later.

Yes, it can be adapted into an intake form, reassessment workflow, or embedded documentation step. If you integrate it with an EHR, map the assessment date, score, and follow-up plan to discrete fields so the data stays searchable. Keep the patient-facing portion accessible and make sure any required fields are clearly marked.