Glossary

Lysholm and IKDC scores

Quick answer

The Lysholm and IKDC scores are short questionnaires that measure how your knee is doing: pain, swelling, giving way, stairs, squatting and sport. Each gives a score out of 100, where higher is better, and repeating them shows progress after injury or surgery, explains Doha knee surgeon Dr. Pablo Gelber at Aman Hospital.

What you are asked

You complete the forms yourself, on paper or a screen, in about five to ten minutes. The Lysholm score asks about limping, needing support, locking, instability, pain, swelling, stairs and squatting. The IKDC subjective form asks about the highest activity you can manage without symptoms, how often pain or stiffness occurs, and how well you can do tasks such as kneeling, jumping or running.

There are no right answers. Answer for your usual knee over the past weeks, not an unusually good or bad day.

What they tell the surgeon

Examination and scans show what the knee looks like; these scores show what it is like to live with. They help the surgeon track recovery after ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair or cartilage surgery, spot a plateau early, and compare how you are doing with typical recovery patterns.

A score that stops improving or drops can prompt a closer look at rehabilitation, swelling or a new problem. Scores are also used together with strength and hop tests when planning return to sport.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Lysholm or IKDC score?

Higher is better, with 100 representing a knee without limitations. What matters most is your own change over time and whether the knee lets you do what you want.

Why do I fill in the same form at every visit?

Repeating the same questions makes changes measurable. It shows whether your knee is improving and helps guide the next step in treatment.