title: Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment: normative data of the Dutch population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) is widely used in both research and clinical practice. Despite its frequent use, normative data of the SMFA have remained limited. Aim of this study was to gather normative data for the Dutch SMFA (SMFA-NL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The SMFA-NL consists of two indices (function index and bother index) and four subscales (upper extremity dysfunction, lower extremity dysfunction, mental and emotional problems, and problems with daily activities). A total of 900 patients were invited to fill in the SMFA-NL. Six age groups (18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-75 years) were constructed. Analysis of variance, t tests, and regression analyses were used to assess age and gender effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 97 %. There was a significant difference between men and women in scores on all indices and subscales (range p < 0.001 to p = 0.002), except for the upper extremity dysfunction subscale (p = 0.06). A significant interaction effect was found between gender and age for the upper extremity dysfunction subscale; a larger decrease in score with increasing age was observed for women, compared with men. Significant differences were found between age groups for the bother index (p < 0.001), lower extremity dysfunction subscale (p = 0.001), and the problems with daily activities subscale (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences in SMFA-NL scores were found between men and women and between different age groups. These SMFA-NL normative data provide an opportunity of benchmarking health status of participants with musculoskeletal disorders or injuries against their age- and gender-matched peers in the Dutch population.
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands, m.w.de.graaf@umcg.nl.
authors: M W
authors: MW
authors: de Graaf
authors: M
authors: M
authors: El Moumni
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Heineman
authors: K W
authors: KW
authors: Wendt
authors: I H F
authors: IH
authors: Reininga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult