Abstract Details

Title A Novel Muscle Cramp Scale for Patients with ALS

Topic Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG)

Presentation(s) S54 - Motor Neuron Disease (4:25 PM-4:36 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 006

Objective To develop a new muscle cramp scale.

Background Clinical trials in the past have utilized a cramp diary that details the number, location, and severity of muscle cramps.

Design/Methods We have developed an outcome measure to assess muscle cramps in ALS, which contains four 5-point subdomains consisting of 1) cramp-triggering factors, 2) frequency, 3) location, 4) severity, and a 5) 10-point visual scale assessing the degree in which the cramp affects overall daily living.

Results Thirty patients with ALS, who experienced a daily cramp or at least 3 cramps per week, participated in a test-retest study. An additional 26 patients participated in a second study assessing changes over 4 weeks using the cramp scale in conjunction with a cramp diary. To assess the internal reliability of the scale, a Cronbach’s coefficient value of α=0.75 was considered acceptable. Test and retest by in-person and telephone administration did not differ, and Cohen’s kappa statistics revealed moderate to high agreement for each item (range 0.60 to 0.95, P<.0001). We confirmed that muscle cramps had non-significant changes over 4 weeks using our cramp scale and diary, corroborating previous findings that showed no changes in cramps assessed via diary over 8 weeks (Weber et al. 2010). Changes via the cramp scale were validated against those noted in the cramp diary.

Conclusions

This study showed that the ALS muscle cramp scale is a valid, simple, and quick measure that can be administered either in person or by telephone. It can be used for assessment of muscle cramps in patients with ALS.

Authors/Disclosures
Hiroshi Mitsumoto, MD, FAAN (Neurological Institute (NI-9)) PRESENTER	Dr. Mitsumoto has nothing to disclose.
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