FUNCAP55
Functional Capacity Questionnaire

This questionnaire evaluates your functional capacity for a range of activities. No days are the same, base your response on an average day during the last month, not the worst nor the best.
If a question concerns an activity that you have not performed, such as showering while seated because you always shower standing up, then score as you think this activity would have affected you. Items described include necessary activities to perform them.
Example: "Going to a shop for groceries" includes getting dressed and as necessary travelling.
It is a good idea to answer the questionnaire together with someone who sees you in everyday life.

Please note that the questionnaire was developed to evaluate the functional capacity of an individual with ME/CFS. It is NOT advised to use the results for comparing the severity of one individual with another.
At the end of this page there is a diagram presenting the responses to the FUNCAP27 questionnaire by over 1.000 ME/CFS patients. While reviewing this graph in comparison to your own results, please keep in mind that this is not a valid diagnostic tool for your severity level.
How you CAN use your individual results though:
1. Print out the questionnaire with your answers for doctors appointments or as an attachment to applications (e.g. disability support) to demonstrate your current functional capacity.
2. Track your personal progression by repeating the test at regular intervals (save your results every time e.g. printing, screenshots, writing the answers down...).

Link to study with in-depth background information HERE

0: I cannot do this.
1: My capacity will be severely reduced for at least three days.
2: I can do little else on the same day and for one to two days afterwards.
3: I can do little else on the same day.
4: I must limit other activities on the same day.
5: This rarely affects other activities.
6: Unproblematic - does not affect other activities.

A - Personal hygiene / Basic functions -
1-Using the toilet (not bedpan or bedside commode)
2-Brushing your teeth without assistance
3-Showering seated, with assistance
4-Showering seated, without assistance
5-Showering standing up
6-Getting up and staying out of bed for approx. 1 hour
7-Getting dressed in regular clothes
B - Walking - moving around -
8-Walking a short distance indoors, from one room to another
9-Walking a short continuous distance, approx. 100m (length of a football field), in or outdoors
10-Walking between approx. 100m and 1km on level ground (length of 1 to 10 football fields)
11-Going for a longer walk. approx. 1km(0.6 miles), mostly level ground
12-Going for a longer walk. approx. 1km(0.6 miles), hilly or varied terrain
13-Physical activity with increased heart rate, for approx. 15 min
14-Physical activity with increased heart rate, for approx. half hour
C - Being upright -
15-Sitting in bed for approx. half hour
16-Sitting in an upright chair (dining chair) with feet on floor for approx. 10 minutes
17-Sitting in an upright chair (dining chair) with feet on floor for approx. 2 hours
18-Standing up for approx. 5 minutes, e.g. while queuing or while cooking
19-Standing up for a long time. approx. half hour
D - Activities in the home -
20-Light housework (dusting, tidying etc.) for approx. half hour continuously
21-Heavier housework (washing floors, vacuuming etc) for approx. half hour continuously
22-Laundry (sorting, hanging up to dry and folding)
23-Making a simple cold meal, such as a sandwich or cereal
24-Cooking a simple hot meal
25-Cooking a complicated meal from scratch, approx. 1 hour of preparation
E - Communication -
26-Speaking a few words
27-Having a conversation for approx. 5 minutes
28-Having a conversation for approx. half hours
29-Writing a short message by hand
30-Participating in a conversation with three people for approx. half hour
31-Socializing with friends for approx. 1 hour
32-Participating in a dinner party, party or family event
F - Activities outside your home -
33-Stepping right outside your home
34-Going on a necessary errand, such as a doctor's appointment
35-Going to a shop for groceries
36-Doing enjoyable leisure activities, such as going to a cafe, non-essential shopping etc
37-Riding as a passenger in a car for approx. 15 minutes
38-Using public transport (bus or train)
39-Participating in organized leisure activities such as classes, sports etc
G - Reactions to light and sound -
40-Staying in a room with dim lighting for approx. half hour
41-Staying in a room with normal lighting, without sunglasses for approx. 1 hour
42-Staying outdoors in daylight without sunglasses for approx. 2 hours
43-Staying in an environment with the sound of a few people in quiet conversation for approx. 1 hour
44-Staying in a noisy environment, (shopping mall, cafe or open plan office) for approx. 1 hour
45-Going to a cinema, concert etc. with high noise levels
H - Concentration -
46-Reading a short text, such as a mobile phone text message
47-Reading fiction/light reading
48-Reading and understanding a non-fiction text, such as an official document one A4 page long
49-Performing simple mental arithmetic
50-Writing short messages on a smartphone or tablet
51-Using social media to stay in touch with others
52-Watching TV (series, news)
53-Focusing on a task for approx. 10 minutes continuously
54-Focusing on a task for approx. 2 hours continuously
55-Managing a full working day (non-physical work such as office work, classes or lectures)

Summary

A
0
2
4
6
-
B
-
C
-
D
-
E
-
F
-
G
-
H
-
And this is you compared to the answers of 1263 ME/CFS and 178 healthy people*:
*Please check the description at the end for reference and source.
Severety levels explained:
• Very severe: Totally bedbound and in need of care for basic functions (19 answers)
• Severe: Mostly bedridden (136 answers)
• Moderate: Mostly housebound (733 answers)
• Mild: At least 50% reduction in pre-illness activity level (360 answers)
• Better than mild: Less than 50% reductionin pre-illness activity level (15 answers)
A - Personal hygiene / Basic functions
B - Walking / Moving around
C - Being upright
D - Activities in the home
E - Communication
F - Activities outside your home
G - Reactions to light and sound
H - Concentration

Description: Showing Mean (+ - 1 Standard Deviation) A to H sub-scores and Total Score on the FUNCAP27 questionnaire for the 1263 ME/CFS and 178 healthy control (HC) respondent's classification of ME/CFS severity as follows:
Very severe: 19 - Totally bedbound and in need of care for basic functions.
Severe: 136 - Mostly bedridden.
Moderate: 733 - Mostly housebound.
Mild: 360 - At least 50% reduction in pre-illness activity level.
better than mild: 15 - Less than 50% reduction in pre-illness activity level.

Source: Assessing Functional Capacity in ME/CFS: A Patient informed Questionnaire. Authors: Kristian Sommerfelt, Trude Schei, Katharine A Seton, Simon R Carding; Posted Date: 29 September 2023; doi: 10.20944/preprints202309.2091.v1