Which statements about pain scales are commonly used in rehab practice?

• A. Blood glucose levels
• B. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
• C. Respiratory rate
• D. Bone mineral density

Answer: (B)

In rehab practice, you need a simple, reliable way to quantify a patient’s pain so you can track changes and guide treatment. The two scales most commonly used are the Visual Analog Scale and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The Visual Analog Scale uses a straight line, usually 100 mm long, with endpoints labeled no pain and worst imaginable pain; the patient marks a point on the line, and that position is measured to produce a numeric score. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale asks the patient to rate their pain on a 0 to 10 scale, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst possible pain. Both are quick, easy to administer, widely validated, and sensitive to small changes in pain over time, which helps determine whether to progress activities, adjust therapy, or add pain-relief strategies. They work across many adults and settings, including brief sessions or telehealth. Other options like blood glucose, respiratory rate, or bone mineral density measure different physiological or structural factors, not pain intensity, so they aren’t pain scales.