ASIA Grading

Once you become Spinal Cord Injured and admitted to your rehab center/hospital you will normally be scored under the ASIA grading.

This is a neurological assessment involving a pin prick test to determine sensory levels and a motor examination to determine muscle strength.

You will be graded as ASIA A, B, C, D or E

What does the grading mean?

A- Complete
No motor or sensory function in the lowest sacral segment (S4-S5)

B- Incomplete
Sensory function below neurologic level and in S4-S5, no motor function below neurologic level

C- Incomplete
Motor function is preserved below neurologic level and more than half of the key muscle groups below neurologic level have a muscle grade less than 3.

D- Incomplete
Motor function is preserved below neurologic level and at least half of the key muscle groups below neurologic level have a muscle grade >3

E- Normal
Sensory and motor function is normal

Sensory levels are graded as:
0 – The sensation is absent
1 – The sensation is present but imapired
2 – The sensation is normal

Muscle strength is graded as
0 - Total paralysis
1 - Palpable or visible contraction
2 - Active movement, full range of motion, gravity eliminated
3 - Active movement, full range of motion, against gravity
4 - Active movement, full range of motion, against gravity and provides some resistance
5 - Active movement, full range of motion, against gravity and provides normal resistance [Muscle able to exert, in examiner’s judgement, sufficient resistance to be considered normal if identifiable inhibiting factors were not present]
NT – not testable. Patient unable to reliably exert effort or muscle unavailable for test-ing due to factors such as immobilization, pain on effort or contracture.

Below is the chart used for the scoring...

(click image to enlarge)


Sourced: Here.