Level of disability
1 — No significant disability; able to carry out all usual activities
2 — Slight disability; unable to carry out all previous activities but independent in daily affairs
3 — Moderate disability; needs some help but walks unassisted
4 — Moderately severe disability; unable to walk or attend to bodily needs unassisted
5 — Severe disability; bedridden, incontinent, needs constant nursing care
Evidence
Original publication
Rankin J. Cerebral vascular accidents in patients over the age of 60. II. Prognosis. Described the original grade of post-stroke disability that, in modified form, became the modified Rankin Scale (0 no symptoms to 6 dead).
Scottish Medical Journal, 1957
Validation
van Swieten JC, Koudstaal PJ, Visser MC, Schouten HJ, van Gijn J. Interobserver agreement for the assessment of handicap in stroke patients. Established the modern mRS wording and showed acceptable inter-observer agreement (κ ≈ 0.56, higher with a structured interview).
Stroke, 1988
Guideline
The mRS at 90 days is the standard primary outcome in acute stroke trials; a "good functional outcome" is usually defined as mRS 0–2 (or a shift analysis across the whole scale).
Last reviewed: 2026-09
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