The PSFS is a self report measure of the frequency of reported muscle spasms which is commonly used to quantify spasticity (Penn et al. 1989; Priebe et al. 1996). The PSFS is a 2 component self-report scale developed to augment clinical ratings of spasticity (Benz et al. 2006) and provide a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s spasticity status. The first component is a 5 point scale assessing the frequency with which spasms occur ranging from “0 = No spasms” to “4 = Spontaneous spasms occurring more than ten times per hour”. The second component is a 3 point scale assessing the severity of spasms ranging from “1 = Mild” to “3 = Severe”. The second component is not answered if the person indicates they have no spasms in part 1.

Number of items: N/a

Procedure/Administration: Patients report their perceptions of spasticity with regards to frequency and severity.

How scored: N/a

Interpretability: The specific grades simple to interpret although no standardization of time frame is specified for test administration (i.e. within the last hour, day, week, etc.) and specific grades for spasm severity may mean different things to different people.

Acceptability: N/a

Languages: N/a

Usability: The PSFS is easy to understand presents minimal patient burden (easy to administer during routine clinical visits).

Time to administer: Quick (though no time is specified)

Time to score: N/a

Training required: No training is required, however understanding spasticity likely improves the scale’s utility.

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: None

Summary:

• The scale is subject to concomitant subclinical conditions such as fullness of the bladder, development of a symptomatic urinary tract infection, anxiety level, room temperature, subject comfort, and many other conditions.
• In general, self-report measures of spasticity correlate only moderately with clinical examination suggesting that the elements of spasticity evaluated in the physical examination do not represent what is important to persons with SCI spasticity. To more fully understand spasticity as experienced by the client, self-report spasticity measures are an important adjunct to other clinical measures of spasticity.

 Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

N/a= No information.

References

• Aydin G, Tomruk S, Keles I, Demir SO, Orkun S. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation versus baclofen in spasticity: clinical and electrophysiologic comparison. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2005;84:584-592.
• Benz EN, Hornby TG, Bode RK, Scheidt RA, Schmit BD. A physiologically based clinical measure for spastic reflexes in spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:52-59.
• Boviatsis EJ, Kouyialis AT, Korfias S, Sakas DE. Functional outcome of intrathecal baclofen administration for severe spasticity. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2005;107:289-295.
• Gianino JM, York MM, Paice JA, Shott S. Quality of life: effect of reduced spasticity from intrathecal baclofen. J Neurosci Nurs 1998;30:47-54.
• Penn RD. Intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1988;531:157-166.
• 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; 77:713-716.
•