The JOA score helps patients with cervical spondylosis to understand the severity of their disease, early diagnosis, and early treatment.
Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) cervical spine disease score
1.Motor function of upper limbs
Inability to eat by oneself with chopsticks or spoon 0 points
1 point for eating with a spoon
Difficult to eat with chopsticks (e.g., unable to pick up peanuts with disposable chopsticks) 2 points
Slightly difficult to eat with chopsticks 3 points
4 points for normal eating,
2.Lower limb motor function
Cannot walk 0 points
1 point for walking on level ground with support
Support walking up and down stairs 2 points
Slightly difficult to walk 3 points
Walking normally 4 points
3.Sensory function
Severe sensory impairment or pain in upper limbs 0 points
Mild sensory impairment 1 point
Sensory normal 2 points,
4.Trunk and lower extremity scores are the same as upper extremity 0-2 points each.
5.Bladder function
Urinary incontinence 0 points
Severe difficulty in urination 1 point
Mild difficulty in urination 2 points
Normal 3 points
Total score 17 points