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Penn Spasm Frequency Scale
Availability
Information can be found on the Rehab Measures website at Penn Spasm Frequency Scale
Classification
Exploratory: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and SCI-Pediatric (Exploratory as patient/caregiver patient reported outcomes)
Short Description of Instrument
Construct measured: Spasticity
Intended respondent: Participant
# of items: 2
# of subscales and names of sub-scales: spasm frequency and spasm severity
# of items per sub-scale: N/A
Comments/Special Instructions
Background: The Penn Spasm Frequency Scale is a self-report measure that assesses an individual’s perception of spasticity frequency and severity.
 
Scoring: The Penn Spasm frequency Scale is comprised of two parts: spasm frequency and spasm severity. If the participant selects 0 in the first part of the assessment, the second part is not performed.
 
Spasm Frequency:
0 = No spasm
1 = Mild spasms induced by stimulation
2 = Infrequent full spasms occurring less than once per hour 3 = Spasms occurring more than once per hour
4 = Spasms occurring more than 10 times per hour
 
Spasm Severity:
1 = Mild
2 = Moderate
3 = Severe
Rationale/Justification
Strengths/Weaknesses: The Penn Spasm Frequency Scale is a self-report assessment that includes elements of frequency and severity of muscle spasms, which form  major aspects of the spasticity experience, besides muscle "stiffness" that is the focus of the Modified Ashworth Scale. The subjectivity in determining frequency and severity can confound interpretation of the score and make it somewhat difficult to compare between individuals or groups. However, it can be considered as a potentially useful adjunct to the Modified Ashworth Scale. Both instruments provide essentially ordered categorical elements that do not lend themselves well to accurate quantitative analysis. This scale is what is currently available in the realm of a self- report outcome for spasticity. It would seem possible and desirable to improve on it.
 
SCI-Pediatric-specific: No Studies with children, but relevant and appropriate with children. No age recommendation in literature. Future research is needed.
References
Adams MM, Ginis KA, & Hicks AL. The spinal cord injury spasticity evaluation tool: development and evaluation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007; 88(9), 1185– 1192.
 
Hsieh JT, Wolfe DL, Miller WC & Curt A. Spasticity outcome measures in spinal cord injury: psychometric properties and clinical utility. Spinal Cord. 2008; 46(2), 86–95.
 
Priebe MM, Sherwood AM, Thornby JI, Kharas NF, & Markowski J. Clinical assessment of spasticity in spinal cord injury: a multidimensional problem. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996; 77(7), 713–716.
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