Locomotion score in rheumatoid arthritis.

A total locomotion score suited for clinical evaluation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was developed and fulfilled the 1980 criteria of WHO. The grading system distinguished a subjective score for pain and ability from an objective score for physical signs, and it assessed the upper and lower extremities separately. The total locomotion score consisted of the total subjective and total objective scores combined. The three total assessments each showed a linear relationship to Steinbrocker's four functional classes when tested in 106 rheumatoid patients with ARA criteria 5-8. The interobserver reliability was good. The multifactorial assessment data were monitored by a computer.