CHAPTER 37: MODIFIED RANKIN SCALE (MRS)
Description
The Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) is a quick screen staging tool considered to be a single-item global outcome scale for use with stroke populations. The scale describes 6 grades of disability that are common to stroke patients (0 to 5) with 0 being no symptoms and 5 considered severe disability. During assessment, information about the client is obtained through observation and interview. The practitioner then uses that information to quantify an individual’s level of participation as well as functional mobility against the inclusion/exclusion criteria of the 5 stages. The original scale, developed by Rankin (1950), was later modified by Warlow et al. (1988) to include a grade 0, as well as further refinements to grade 1 to include “no significant disability: able to carry out all usual duties,” as well as to grade 2 to encompass “slight disability: unable to carry out some of previous activities” (Van Swieten, Koudstaal, Visser, Schouten, & van Gijn, 1988). The MRS can be completed in less than 5 minutes.
TABLE 37-1
THE MODIFIED RANKIN SCALE
| LEVEL | DESCRIPTION |
| 0 | No symptoms |
| 1 | No significant disability, despite symptoms; able to perform all usual duties and activities |
| 2 | Slight disability; unable to perform all previous activities but able to look after own affairs without assistance |
| 3 | Moderate disability; requires some help, but able to walk without assistance |
| 4 | Moderately severe disability; unable to walk without assistance and unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance |
| 5 | Severe disability; bedridden, incontinent, and requires constant nursing care and attention |
Adapted from Van Swieten, J., Koudstaal, P., Visser, M., Schouten, H., & van Gijn, J. (1988). Interobserver agreement for the assessment of handicap in stroke patients. Stroke, 19(5), 605.
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