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Webster Rating Scale for Parkinson's Disease

One of the earliest quantitative disability scales for Parkinson disease.

Webster Rating Scale for Parkinson's Disease
Bradykinesia of hands (including handwriting)
Rigidity
Posture
Upper extremity swing
Gait
Tremor
Facies
Seborrhea
Speech
Self-care (feeding, dressing, hygiene)
Result0 / 30

No detectable disability.

When to use

  • Historical/legacy quantification of Parkinson disease disability; largely superseded by the UPDRS but still referenced in older literature.

Formula

Sum of 10 items (bradykinesia, rigidity, posture, upper-extremity swing, gait, tremor, facies, seborrhea, speech, self-care), each scored 0-3; range 0-30 (0-10 mild, 11-20 moderate, 21-30 severe).

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Its bradykinesia/rigidity/gait items were the template for the motor exam section of the later UPDRS.

References

  1. Webster DD. Critical analysis of the disability in Parkinson's disease. Mod Treat. 1968;5(2):257-282.