Table 1 American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) describes the functional impairment as a result of spinal cord injury [16]. It consists of five grades ranging from complete loss of function to normal

A

Sensorimotor complete

No sensory or motor function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-5.

B

Sensory incomplete

Sensory but no motor function is preserved below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments S4-5, AND no motor function is preserved more than three levels below the motor level on either side of the body.

C

Motor incomplete

Motor function is preserved below the neurological level

AND more than half of key muscle functions below the neurological level of injury have a muscle grade less than 3.

D

Motor incomplete

Motor incomplete status as defined above, with at least half (half or more) of key muscle functions below the neurological level of injury having a muscle grade ≥ 3.

E

Normal

Normal. If sensation and motor function as tested with the ISNCSCI are graded as normal in all segments, and the patient had prior deficits, then the AIS grade is E.

Someone without an initial spinal cord injury does not receive an AIS grade.