Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the reliability of Modified Ashworth Scales(MAS) measuring muscular tone of lower extremities of children with spastic cerebral palsy(CP).Methods31 children with spastic CP(19 males, 12 females) were included in this study. The mean age for the children was （51.3±26.8） months; 20 diplegia, 7 quadriplegia, 4 hemiplegia. The muscle tone of hip adductor, hamstring, soleus muscles were tested bilaterally with MAS in lower extremity of the children. Two evaluators used the MAS to assesse the muscles tone of children. To compare with the relativity of the results of interrater and intrarater, the reliability was confirmed.ResultsThe reliability of interrater was poor, the total ICC value was 0.68, while better for the reliability of intrarater, the total ICC value was 0.83.ConclusionIt should be cautions in assessment of spasticity of muscles in the lower extremities of children with spastic CP by MAS.

Key words: spasticity, modified Ashworth Scale, reliability, cerebral palsy