Title: Spinal Cord Injury Outcome Measures Overview - Physiopedia
Headings: Spinal Cord Injury Outcome Measures Overview
Spinal Cord Injury Outcome Measures Overview
Introduction
SCI EDGE Task Force Recommended Outcome Measures
Phase of Treatment
ASIA Impairment Scale Level
SCIRE Spinal Cord Injury Outcome Measures Toolkit
International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Component
Conclusion
Resources
References

Content: In the Body Structure and Function Domain of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, none of the measures for tone or cardiovascular function could be recommended secondary to insufficient research specific to the spinal cord injury population to support a stronger recommendation. Similarly in the Activity Domain, balance, upper limb function, and wheelchair skills were also underrepresented with only 1 of 7 balance measures (ie, Berg Balance Scale) and 2 of 9 upper limb function measures (ie, the Capabilities of Upper Extremity Functioning and the Graded and Redefined Assessment of Sensibility, Strength, and Prehension) receiving a “Recommended” rating. Finally in the Participation Domain, all measures that achieved a “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” rating in at least 3 of the 5 categories were patient- reported outcomes measuring domains of quality of life, community function, health and wellness, and environmental factors, which all displayed extensive psychometric data available in the chronic spinal cord injury population, but only one recommended in the acute spinal cord injury population, (the Needs Assessment Check-list), as such the Participation-level Outcome Measures are most appropriate to be used in the chronic spinal cord injury population. Phase of Treatment
Overall 14 measures were recommended or highly recommended for at least 2 levels of acuity providing the ability to compare progress over a longer period of time and covering a number of domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The acute spinal cord injury category had a total of 6 “Highly Recommended” Outcome Measures and 7 “Recommended” Outcome Measures in comparison with the chronic spinal cord injury category, which had a total of 6 “Highly Recommended” Outcome Measures and 19 “Recommended” Outcome Measures. Limited research in acute spinal cord injury (0 - 3 months) meant fewer measures could be recommended during this phase of injury. In particular in relation to quality of life and upper limb function were areas in which no recommendations could be made, despite the importance of both areas and have been identified as a need for further research and development. Phase
Timeframe
Highly Recommended
Recommended
Acute
0-3 Months
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)
Hand Held Myometry
Timed Up and Go (TUG)
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II)
ASIA Impairment Scale
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Manual Muscle Test (MMT)
Needs Assessment Checklist
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III)
Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory
Subacute
3-6 Months
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)
Handheld Myometry
Timed Up and Go (TUG)
ASIA Impairment Scale
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Manual Muscle Test (MMT)
Needs Assessment Checklist
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Sickness Impact Profile 68
Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory
Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III)
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II)
Chronic
> 6 Months
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)
Handheld Myometry
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS)
World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL - BREF)
ASIA Impairment Scale
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Capabilities of Upper Extremity Instrument (CUE)
Craig Handicap Assessment & Reporting Technique (CHART)
Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Graded and Redefined Assessment of Sensibility, Strength and Prehension (GRASSP)
Life Satisfaction Questionnaire 9
Manual Muscle Test (MMT)
Multidimensional Pain Inventory, SCI Version
Reintegration to Normal Living Index
Satisfaction With Life Scale
Short Form 36 (SF-36)
Sickness Impact Profile 68
Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory
Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Profile
Spinal Cord Injury Independence Measure III (SCIM III)
Timed Up and Go (TUG)
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II)
Wheelchair Skills Test (WST)
Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index
ASIA Impairment Scale Level
Overall 20 measures were given a rating of “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” in both incomplete and complete spinal cord injury categories including measures covering the Body Structure and Function, Activity, Participation and Environment Domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Type of Injury
AIS Level
Highly Recommended
Recommended
Motor Complete
AIS A
AIS B
Handheld Myometry
World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL - BREF)
ASIA Impairment Scale
Capabilities of Upper Extremity Instrument (CUE)
Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique
Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors
Functional Independence Measure
Graded and Redefined Assessment of Sensibility Strength and Prehension
Life Satisfaction Questionnaire 9
Manual Muscle Test (MMT)
Multidimensional Pain Inventory, SCI Version
Needs Assessment Checklist
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Reintegration to Normal Living Index
Satisfaction With Life Scale
Short Form 36 (SF-36)
Sickness Impact Profile 68
Spinal Cord Injury Independence Measure III (SCIM III)
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II)
Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index
Motor Incomplete
AIS C
AIS D
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)
Handheld Myometry
Timed Up and Go (TUG)
Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II)
World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL - BREF)
ASIA Impairment Scale
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Capabilities of Upper Extremity Instrument (CUE)
Craig Handicap Assessment & Reporting Technique (CHART)
Craig Hospital Invento