About the Oxford Shoulder Score.
The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) was developed at the University of Oxford by Dawson, Hill, Fitzpatrick and Carr and published in 1996. It is one of the most widely used and best-validated patient-reported outcome measures for the shoulder, used routinely in clinical trials, joint registries and orthopaedic practice worldwide.
It contains 12 questions about pain and everyday function over the past four weeks. Each question is scored 0–4. The total ranges from 0 (worst) to 48 (best).
What the bands mean
- 0–19 — Severe shoulder problem. Significant pain and substantial loss of function in daily life. Strongly worth seeing a GP and considering specialist review.
- 20–29 — Moderate to severe. Daily activities are clearly affected. Worth seeing a GP, organising imaging, and considering a shoulder opinion.
- 30–39 — Mild to moderate. Pain or stiffness is bothering you but most activities are still possible. Many shoulders in this band respond well to physiotherapy.
- 40–48 — Satisfactory. The shoulder is doing well. Self-management, activity and routine review are usually sufficient.
When to use it
- Before your first appointment, so the consultation starts from a shared baseline.
- Before and after a course of physiotherapy or a corticosteroid injection — to see if it has helped.
- Before surgery, and at 3, 6 and 12 months afterwards — to track your recovery objectively.
A change of approximately 5 points between two scores is generally considered clinically meaningful.
What the score will not do
The Oxford Shoulder Score does not diagnose any specific condition. A low score tells you the shoulder is affecting daily life; it does not tell you whether the cause is a rotator cuff tear, arthritis, frozen shoulder, instability or something else. The diagnosis still requires a clinical examination and (often) imaging. Bring the score to that appointment — do not try to interpret it on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
No. The assessment runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, nothing is stored. If you want a copy of your result, use the print or email button on the results screen — the print or email is generated by your own device.
Can I take it for both shoulders?
Yes. Answer the questions for one shoulder at a time, then refresh the page and complete it again for the other. The score is shoulder-specific.
Can I retake the score later?
Yes — that is exactly what it is designed for. Save or print today's score, then redo it after a treatment course, before surgery, and at 3, 6 and 12 months afterwards.
What about the Constant–Murley score?
The Constant–Murley score is a clinician-administered shoulder score that requires goniometer measurements of range and a spring-balance measurement of strength. It is not a self-assessment tool and is best completed at your appointment with Dr Coory.