The Tegner score or activity scale is a scoring system to gauge how disabled one is from one's knee problem in terms of activity.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

 

What is the importance of the Tegner score?

The Tegner Score was designed as a score of activity level to complement other functional scores (eg the Lysholm knee score) for patients with ligamentous injuries.

The instrument scores a person's activity level between 0 and 10 where 0 is 'on sick leave/disability' and 10 is 'participation in competive sports such as soccer at a national or international elite level'. It is the most widely used activity scoring system for patients with knee disorders. However, it does not take into account that individuals may be able to participate at a higher level of activity but consciously choose not to or that some people will participate at a higher level of activity but with limitations.

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How the Tegner score is calculated

Level 10 - Competitive sports- soccer, football, rugby (national elite)

Level 9 - Competitive sports- soccer, football, rugby (lower divisions), ice hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, basketball

Level 8 - Competitive sports- racquetball or bandy, squash or badminton, track and field athletics (jumping, etc.), down-hill skiing

Level 7 - Competitive sports- tennis, running, motorcars speedway, handball

Recreational sports- soccer, football, rugby, bandy, ice hockey, basketball, squash, racquetball, running

Level 6 - Recreational sports- tennis and badminton, handball, racquetball, down-hill skiing, jogging at least 5 times per week

Level 5 - Work- heavy labor (construction, etc.)

Competitive sports- cycling, cross-country skiing,

Recreational sports- jogging on uneven ground at least twice weekly

Level 4 - Work - moderately heavy labor (e.g. truck driving, etc.)

Level 3 - Work - light labor (nursing, etc.)

Level 2 - Work - light labor

Walking on uneven ground possible, but impossible to back pack or hike

Level 1 - Work - sedentary (secretarial, etc.)

Level 0 - Sick leave or disability pension because of knee problems

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Peer-reviewed papers

  • Quote:

    "The objective knee score, completed by the surgeon, includes a VAS score of pain walking on level ground and on stairs or inclines, as well as an assessment of alignment, ligament stability, and ROM, along with deductions for flexion contracture or extensor lag."

    Citation: Scuderi GR, Bourne RB, Noble PC, Benjamin JB, Lonner JH, Scott WN. The new Knee Society Knee Scoring System. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Jan;470(1):3-19. doi: 10.1007/s11999-011-2135-0. PMID: 22045067; PMCID: PMC3237971.

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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...