• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • General Ortho
  • Procedures
  • Spine
  • Upper Limb
  • Lower Limb
  • Pain
  • Trauma
  • Tumors
  • Newsletter/Updates
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Bone and Spine

Orthopedic health, conditions and treatment

Visual Analog Scale For Pain

By Dr Arun Pal Singh

In this article
    • How To Use Visual Analog Scale
  • The significance of the Visual Analog Scale
  • Limitations

Visual analog scale [VAS] is a measure of pain intensity. It is a continuous scale comprised of a horizontal (called horizontal visual analog scale) or, vertical called vertical visual analog scale usually 10 cm or 100 mm length [both the gradations are used]. It is anchored by two verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme.

There could be variation in verbal descriptor anchors depending on the intended use of the scale.

For pain intensity, the scale is most commonly anchored by “no pain” (score of 0) and “pain as bad as it could be” or “worst imaginable pain” (score of 100 [on 100-mm scale]

Though some scales use them, numbers or verbal descriptors at intermediate points are not recommended. This is done to avoid clustering.

Here is an image of the classic visual analog scale I have just described.

Visual Analogue Scale
Visual Analogue Scale

Usually, respondents are asked to report current pain intensity or pain intensity in the last 24 hours.

Here is another variation of the scale used. This looks more descriptive and seems user-friendly than one pictured above.

Another visual analog scale

How To Use Visual Analog Scale

The pain visual analog scale is self-completed by the respondent. The respondent is asked to place a line perpendicular to the VAS line at the point that represents their pain intensity.

After the patient has marked, using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the “no pain” anchor and the patient’s mark.

The scores can be from 0–100.

A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.

Based on the distribution of pain VAS scores in postsurgical patients, the following cut points on the pain VAS have been recommended

  • No pain (0 –4 mm)
  • Mild pain (5–44 mm)
  • Moderate pain (45–74 mm)
  • Severe pain (75–100 mm)

The significance of the Visual Analog Scale

Pain visual analog scale is very easy to use by respondent and assessor both. Woodford and Merskey first reported the use of the VAS pain scale. The reliability of the test has shown to be good and is higher among literate

VAS has been shown to be highly correlated with a 5-point verbal descriptive scale [ mild to severe]

Limitations

Limitations to the use of the pain VAS include the following

  • older patients may have dif?culty completing the pain VAS due to cognitive impairments or motor skill issues.
  • It cannot be administered by telephone, limiting its usefulness in research.
Spread the Knowledge
  • 6
    Shares
  •  
    6
    Shares
  • 1
  • 5
  •  
  •  
  •  

Filed Under: Pain Management

About Dr Arun Pal Singh

Arun Pal Singh is an orthopedic and trauma surgeon, founder and chief editor of this website. He works in Kanwar Bone and Spine Clinic, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

This website is an effort to educate and support people and medical personnel on orthopedic issues and musculoskeletal health.

You can follow him on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Luxatio Erecta Photograph Showing Abducted Arm

Shoulder Injuries – Xrays and Photographs

Xrays and photographs of different kinds of shoulder injuries are presented. Image 1 – Fracture Upper-End Humerus In Child Treated With Closed Reduction and Internal Fixation With K Wires Fracture upper-end humerus are common fractures in children as well in adults and elderly. However, fractures behave differently in different age groups. While elderly patients can […]

Xray of Charcot Joint of Foot

Charcot Joint Disease

Charcot joint or Charcot arthropathy is the name given to neuropathic joint disease is a condition that causes progressive destruction of bone and soft tissues of joints especially weight-bearing joints and may also cause disruption of the bony architecture. Charcot arthropathy can occur at any joint; however, it occurs most commonly in the lower extremity, […]

Deer Tick is vector for Lyme Disease and Lyme Arthritis, PD

Lyme Arthritis Presentation and Treatment

Lyme Arthritis is a feature of Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacteria and is transmitted by the tick Ixodes dammini (deer tick) or a related tick. Arthritis is the presenting manifestation in the majority of cases. The infection is endemic in certain areas of North America. The disease […]

Representative Image of spondylosis

Spondylosis – Definition, Causes and Treatment

Spondylosis as a medical term denotes degenerative changes that occur in the spine as a natural aging process for some other reason. The term degeneration means the wear and tear that accumulates. The bone spurs and degeneration of intervertebral discs are examples of degeneration. The term is from the Ancient Greek word ‘spondylos’ which [plural […]

Fresh and Healed Blisters on Leg

Complications of Plaster Cast

A plaster cast is given for the treatment of fractures and other orthopedic ailments. Though a very safe mode of treatment, complications of plaster cast may occur. The main complications of plaster cast are stiff joints, muscle wasting, and impaired circulation. Physiotherapy and good nursing can help reduce these complications and speed the final recovery. […]

transverse foramen fractures occur in the marked area

Transverse Foramen Fractures

Transverse foramen fractures are the fractures which occur in or extend to transverse foramen. The transverse foramen is also known as foramen transversarium. Transverse foramen fractures are important because of their association of vertebral artery injury. The transverse foramen is an opening on each of the transverse processes of the cervical spine which gives passage […]

snapping hip syndrome

Snapping Hip Syndrome

In snapping hip syndrome there is an audible snap or click that occurs in or around the hip. Snapping hip syndrome may be called External – Snapping of the iliotibial band or gluteus maximus over the greater trochanter Internal – Snapping of the iliopsoas tendon The condition occurs most often in individuals aged 15-40 years […]

Browse Articles

Footer

Pages

  • About
    • Policies
    • Contact Us

Featured Article

Skin Traction and Skeletal Traction

Skin traction is a type of traction that transmits the force via skin. A traction is a directional pull on the trunk or on an extremity. Its … [Read More...] about Skin Traction and Skeletal Traction

Search Articles

© Copyright: BoneAndSpine.com