The Elbow Function Assessment (EFA) scale measures the functional ability of the elbow. It can be used to monitor the effect of therapeutic interventions and is suitable for disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Parameters for score:
(1) pain, using 2 measures
(2) activities of daily living (ADL), using 7 measures
(3) motion, using 3 measures
|
Parameter |
Measures |
|
pain |
pain sensation at rest |
|
|
pain sensation on motion |
|
activities of daily living (ADL) |
cup to mouth |
|
|
eating with a spoon |
|
|
lifting a kettle filled with 1 liter of water |
|
|
pouring water from a kettle into a glass |
|
|
telephone receiver to ipsilateral ear |
|
|
cutting with a knife |
|
|
pulling an object over the table |
|
motion |
active range of motion, flexion |
|
|
active range of motion, contracture |
|
|
combined movement, grasping ear lobe of contralateral side with arm in front of the body |
Scoring
Pain sensation at rest:
• measure pain on a variable analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most possible, "unimaginable")
• points = (10 - (VAS reading))
Pain sensation on motion:
• measure pain on a variable analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most possible, "unimaginable")
• points = ((10 - (VAS reading)) * 2)
|
Activities of Daily Living |
Points |
|
without difficulty |
5 |
|
with little difficulty |
3 |
|
with much difficulty |
2 |
|
with aid |
1 |
|
impossible |
0 |
|
Active Flexion (from full extension) |
Points |
|
> 125° |
15 |
|
100 - 125° |
10 |
|
75 - 100° |
5 |
|
< 75° |
0 |
where:
• The table in article gives ">= 125, 100-125, 75-100 and <75", showing overlap at the end of the ranges in 3 of the 4 response options.
|
Flexion Contracture (measured after flexion) |
Points |
|
to < 20° |
10 |
|
to 20 - 40° |
5 |
|
to > 40° |
0 |
where:
• The table in article gives "<= 20°, 20-40°, >= 40°", showing overlap at the end of the ranges in all 3 of the response options.
|
Combined Movement |
Points |
|
without difficulty |
10 |
|
with difficulty |
5 |
|
impossible |
0 |
EFA scale =
= (points for pain) + (points for activities of daily living) + (points for motion)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 100 (30 points pain, 35 points ADL, 35 points motion)
• The lower the score, the worse the elbow function.
• An increase in the score over time indicates improvement, while a decrease indicates deterioration.
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic
