Abstract
Purpose of Review
The purpose of this review is to familiarize the reader with assessments and measurement of spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Spasticity affects 60–84% of people with MS, worsening as disability worsens and impacting activity, participation, and quality of life. Spasticity manifests in many ways, including spasms, resistance to passive stretch, pain, and perception of tightness, and can affect muscles throughout the body, making assessment and quantification of spasticity challenging but important. Assessment tools include those quantified by clinicians, instrumentation, and patients.
Recent Findings
Most tools for measuring spasticity are based on clinician scoring, were developed many years ago, and have undergone minimal recent advances. More recent developments are patient-reported outcome measures for spasticity, including the Numeric Rating Scale for Spasticity (NRS-S) and the disease-specific Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale-88 (MSSS), and, most recently, imaging through elastography.
Summary
MS-related spasticity is common and often disabling. There are various spasticity measurement tools available, each with advantages and limitations. Newer tools are likely to be developed as our understanding of spasticity in MS grows.
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Cinda L. Hugos declares no potential conflicts of interest. Michelle H. Cameron reports consulting fees from Adamas Pharmaceuticals and Greenwich Bioscience/GW Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work.
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Hugos, C.L., Cameron, M.H. Assessment and Measurement of Spasticity in MS: State of the Evidence. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 19, 79 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0991-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0991-2