LEFS Assessment | Lower Extremity Function Scale | Accelerate ACL

Free Assessment Tool

Lower Extremity Function Scale

20 questions. Instant score. A clinically validated snapshot of where your lower body is right now and how far you have to go.

0 / 80
0 of 20 answered

For each activity below, rate the difficulty you currently experience in your lower extremity (hip, thigh, knee, leg, ankle, or foot). If the activity is limited by something other than your lower extremity, mark "No difficulty."

01 Your usual daily tasks (work, school, or household activities)
02 Your sport, training, or recreational activities
03 Getting into or out of the bath
04 Walking between rooms
05 Putting on your shoes or socks
06 Squatting
07 Lifting an object from the floor
08 Light activities around the house
09 Heavy activities around the house
10 Getting into or out of a car
11 Walking two blocks
12 Walking a mile
13 Going up or down 10 stairs
14 Standing for one hour
15 Sitting for one hour
16 Running on even ground
17 Running on uneven ground
18 Making sharp turns while running fast
19 Hopping
20 Rolling over in bed
What is the LEFS and is it validated?

The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a 20-item, clinically validated outcome measure developed to assess functional status in athletes and individuals with lower extremity musculoskeletal conditions, including ACL injury, soft tissue sprains, hip and knee conditions, and fractures.

It was originally developed and validated by Binkley et al. (1999) in a cohort of 107 individuals with lower extremity dysfunction. Subsequent normative data was published by Dingemans et al. (2017). The LEFS has strong test-retest reliability (ICC 0.86), a Minimal Detectable Change of 9 points (MDC90), and is widely used in physical therapy and sports medicine.

Source: Binkley JM et al., Physical Therapy, 1999.

How is the score calculated?

Each of the 20 activities is rated on a 5-point scale (0 to 4). The scores are summed for a total out of 80. Higher scores indicate better function. A score of 9 points or more represents a meaningful change (MDC90) — the threshold at which you can be confident real improvement has occurred, not just measurement noise.

This tool is not medical advice

This LEFS calculator is provided as an informational tool for athletes and individuals recovering from lower extremity injury. It does not replace a clinical evaluation. Scores should be interpreted in the context of your full medical history, imaging, and the guidance of your physician and physical therapist. Accelerate ACL is a non-clinical training program and does not provide medical diagnoses or treatment recommendations.