Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA)

Original Editor - Ajay Upadhyay

Top Contributors - Kate Sampson, Ajay Upadhyay, Evan Thomas, Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson, 127.0.0.1, Scott Buxton, Amrita Patro and Lucinda hampton  

Objective

SARA is a clinical scale that is based on a semiquantitative assessment of cerebellar ataxia on an impairment level. Schmitz-Hübsch et al. recently proposed the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) as an alternative to The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). The daily use of ICARS scale in ataxic patients is difficult due to its many assessment items. This new assessment tool has fewer assessment items than the ICARS and therefore has the advantage of easier daily assessment of ataxia.

Intended Population

Clients with Ataxia

Method of Use

SARA has 8 items that are related to gait, stance, sitting, speech, finger-chase test, nose-finger test, fast alternating movements and heel-shin test. Although the cerebellum is directly involved in the coordination of eye movements, oculomotor functions are not considered, as the validation trials indicated that they are determined by other factors than appendicular and midline ataxia.

Reference

Schmitz-Hübsch T, Tezenas du Montcel S, Baliko L, Berciano J, Boesch S et al. Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia: development of a new clinical scale. Neurology 2006;66:1717-1720.

Schmitz-Hübsch T, Fimmers R, Rakowicz M, Rola R, Zdzienicka E, Fancellu R et al. Responsiveness of different rating instruments in spinocerebellar ataxia patients. Neurology 2010;74:678-84

Weyer A, Abele M, Schmitz-Hübsch T, Schoch B, Frings M et al. Reliability and validity of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia: A Study in 64 ataxia patients. Mov Disord 2007;22:1633-1637.

Evidence

High inter-rater reliability (ICCs5 0.90–0.96)

High test–re-test reliability (ICCs5 0.90–0.96)

High internal consistency (Cronbach’s a50.94)

Good internal structural validity

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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