Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hoehn and Yahr scale
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The Hoehn and Yahr scale is a commonly used system for describing how the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease progress. The scale allocates stages from 0 to 5 to indicate the relative level of disability.
- Stage one: Symptoms on one side of the body only.
- Stage two: Symptoms on both sides of the body. No impairment of balance.
- Stage three: Balance impairment. Mild to moderate disease. Physically independent.
- Stage four: Severe disability, but still able to walk or stand unassisted.
- Stage five: Wheelchair-bound or bedridden unless assisted.
References
References
- Hoehn M, Yahr M (1967). “Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality”. Neurology. 17 (5): 427–42. PMID 6067254.