NIHSS Motor Function Assessment 3

Question 1

A patient demonstrates movement of the arm but cannot overcome gravity to lift it off the bed. What is the NIHSS motor score?

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

A score of 2 indicates some effort against gravity but the limb cannot achieve or maintain the required position.

Question 2

Which position is used for NIHSS arm motor testing in a patient who cannot sit upright?

Accepted Answer

45° in supine

Answer

When the patient cannot sit, the arm is held at 45° in the supine position for Item 5 testing.

Question 3

On the NIHSS, a score of 4 on motor arm (Item 5) indicates what finding?

Accepted Answer

No movement at all (complete paralysis)

Answer

A score of 4 represents no movement whatsoever — complete paralysis of the limb.

Question 4

Why is motor function assessed separately for right and left limbs on the NIHSS?

Accepted Answer

Because stroke often causes asymmetric deficits

Answer

Strokes typically affect one side of the body, so lateralized scoring captures the asymmetry of the deficit.

Question 5

A patient holds the right leg at 30° for 3 seconds, then it drifts down and hits the bed at second 4. What is the NIHSS Item 6a score?

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

A score of 2 is given when the leg drifts down to the bed within the 5-second window.

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test