Scales for Spinal Cord Disorders

ABSTRACT

Clinical scales are important tools for quantitatively evaluating impairments and disabilities related to diseases. Clinical scales are also used in many clinical studies to assess therapeutic effects. Spinal cord disorders cause neurological deterioration, which leads to functional and social disabilities. For many neurological disorders that cause myelopathy, including multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, numerous drugs are being developed and studied for clinical use. Thus, clinical scales for myelopathy are important for both the medical field and general public. This review article describes the clinical scales for myelopathy, especially those that are widely used and established. We expect that this review will help readers choose the scales appropriate for their purposes.