What Is the Ashworth Scale?
Muscles carry tension and tone. Some muscle groups have a higher tone than others. Spasticity is when the brain causes the normal tone on the muscles to lessen. A scale of assessing this is called the Ashworth scale. An important cause of neurological disability is spasticity.
Other People Are Reading
-
What is Muscle Tone
-
Muscle tone is defined by the resistance of a muscle being stretched without resistance.
5-Point Scale
-
The Ashworth scale has 5 points that are easy to understand. They are: 1) no increase in muscle tone; 2) slight increase giving a catch when part is moved in flexion or extension; 3) more marked increase in tone but only after part is easily flexed; 4) considerable increase in tone; and 5) passive movement is difficult and affected part is rigid in flexion or extension.
-
Ashworth Scale
-
The Ashworth scale is one of the most widely used methods of measuring spasticity, due in a large part to the simplicity and reproducible method.
Modified to 6 Points
-
The Ashworth scale has been modified. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) has a 6-point scale that assists with stroke patients.
Modified Ashworth Scale
-
The MAS better measures muscle hypertonia instead of spasticity.
-
