1. What is the Widespread Pain Index?

The Widespread Pain Index (WPI) is a clinical tool used to assess the extent of pain distribution throughout the body. It is commonly used in the diagnosis and evaluation of fibromyalgia and other widespread pain conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the WPI formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Number of Pain Areas} \) — Count of painful body regions (0-19)
• \( 19 \) — Total possible pain areas assessed
• \( 100 \) — Scaling factor to convert to percentage scale

Explanation: The WPI quantifies the distribution of pain by counting the number of painful body regions out of 19 possible areas, then converts this to a standardized score.

3. Importance of WPI Assessment

Details: The WPI is crucial for diagnosing fibromyalgia, monitoring treatment response, and assessing the severity of widespread pain conditions. It helps differentiate localized from widespread pain patterns.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of painful body areas (0-19). The calculator will compute the WPI score, which ranges from 0 to 100 points.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the 19 body areas assessed in WPI?
A: The assessment includes: jaw, shoulder, upper arm, lower arm, hip, upper leg, lower leg, chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back, and neck.

Q2: What WPI score indicates fibromyalgia?
A: Typically, a WPI score ≥7 along with other criteria suggests fibromyalgia, but clinical evaluation is necessary for diagnosis.

Q3: How often should WPI be assessed?
A: WPI can be monitored at regular intervals (e.g., every 3-6 months) to track treatment response and disease progression.

Q4: Can WPI be used alone for diagnosis?
A: No, WPI is part of comprehensive diagnostic criteria that include symptom severity and duration assessment.

Q5: What is the normal range for WPI?
A: In healthy individuals, WPI is typically 0. Higher scores indicate more widespread pain distribution.