ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Ashworth Scale, which is a performance-based scale to measure spasticity. B. Ashworth described a 5-level categorical scale in 1964 to measure spasticity in multiple sclerosis. He appears to have developed the scale based on clinical experience. Ashworth stated that the patient should be lying in a relaxed position. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
