IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Angela Martins; Joao Requicha; Ines Viegas; Debora Gouveia; Antonio Ferreira

Volume : VI, Issue : V, May - 2017

MUSCULAR SPASTICITY CLASSIFICATION IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODIFIED ASHWORTH SCALE IN VETERINARY FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION

Angela Martins, Joao Requicha, Ines Viegas, Debora Gouveia, Antonio Ferreira

Abstract :

Muscular spasticity is a clinical sign common on Veterinary Medicine´s patients with upper motor neuron syndrome (UMNS) syndrome and can be explain by neuroanatomy, thus extremely important when adressed from an Animal Rehabilitation point of view, being that these kind of animals are potential future patients of functional neuro–rehabilitation (FNR). Considering its limitation to the functionality and quality of life of patients, Human Medicine invests a lot of work in the full understanting of spasticity. On the other hand this clinical sign is undervalued in Veterinary Medicine. Thus, the presente article aims to classify muscular spasticity in dogs, introducing a qualitative clinical scale of evaluation, already been proved by neuroscience in Human Medicine. Therefore, the main goal of this study was the implementation of the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) to Veterinary Medicine. With this method, it becomes possible for all veterinarians in the rehabilitation field to speak the same clinical language and, through the initial MAS classification during the FNR examination, to obtain an indication of prognosis regarding morbidity and functionality.