Understanding the MG-ADL scale: A vital tool for managing Myasthenia Gravis
Keeping track of symptoms can help people with Myasthenia Gravis gain a sense of control when faced with the unpredictability of their condition. Importantly, it can also assist with treatment decisions as doctors can better determine what is or isn’t working.
What is the MG-ADL Scale?
Neurologists have several ways to measure MG symptoms, but the most common is the MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) profile. This tool provides a structured evaluation of how MG impacts daily activities, focusing on specific muscle groups and physical functions. Becoming familiar with the MG-ADL scale is essential as it allows for better communication with healthcare providers and helps set realistic treatment goals. "Download and print the MG-ADL scale to discuss with your doctor.(1)"
How the MG-ADL scale can improve your daily life?
The MG-ADL scale assesses activities such as speaking, breathing, and performing daily tasks like brushing teeth or standing up from a chair. Each activity is graded on a scale from 0 to 3, reflecting the severity of symptoms experienced.
Here’s an example of the scale for the symptom “Talking”:
Ideally, people living with MG would want to get to a place where their MG symptoms have minimal impact on their daily lives. We therefore talk about “Minimum Symptom Expression (MSE)”, which is achieved when a person scores zero or one on the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale (2).
Regularly completing the MG-ADL scale helps patients and their healthcare team monitor changes in MG symptoms over time. A decrease in the MG-ADL score by two points or more suggests improvement in symptoms. Conversely, an increase in score may indicate the need for adjustments in treatment strategies (3,4).
By incorporating the MG-ADL scale into regular symptom tracking, people with MG can better understand how the condition affects their daily lives. By adopting this proactive approach, you can better communicate with healthcare providers and achieve a more thorough management of MG symptoms.
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REFERENCES :
1. Wolfe GI, et al. Neurology. 1999;52(7):1487-1489.
2. Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Website. Accessed July 2023. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/myasthenia-gravis
3. Myasthenia Gravis. Muscular Dystrophy Association Website. Accessed September 2023. https://www.mda.org/disease/myasthenia-gravis/signs-and-symptoms
4.Albazli K, et al. Front Immunol. 2020;11:917.
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