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Table 1 Brunnstrom recovery stages.

From: Effects of dry needling on muscle spasticity of the upper limb in a survivor of traumatic brain injury: a case report

Stages

Description

Stage 1

Flaccidity; no movements of the limbs can be initiated

Stage 2

Spasticity begins to develop; the basic limb synergies or some of their components may be present

Little or no active finger flexion can be performed.

Stage 3

Spasticity is marked; the basic limb synergies are performed voluntarily

Mass grasp; hook grasp with no release; no voluntary finger extension

Stage 4

Spasticity begins to decrease; some movement combinations that deviated the synergies become available

Small-range semi-voluntary finger extension

Stage 5

Spasticity is diminishing. More difficult movement combinations can be performed

Voluntary mass extension of fingers

Stage 6

No spasticity; isolated joint movements can be performed normally

Voluntary extension of fingers.