A patient who can obey simple motor commands would receive which GCS Motor response score?

The appropriate score for a patient who can obey simple motor commands is 6 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for motor response. The GCS is a neurological scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness, particularly after a head injury or other medical conditions affecting consciousness.

In the context of motor response, a score of 6 is assigned when a patient can follow simple commands, such as "raise your arm" or "squeeze my hand." This indicates active engagement and purposeful movement, suggesting that the patient's motor function and cognitive processing are intact to some degree.

Understanding the scoring system further helps clarify this context: a score of 5 is given for localized response to pain, meaning the patient may withdraw or move one part of their body in response to a painful stimulus but not necessarily follow commands. Similarly, a score of 4 reflects withdrawal from pain, which indicates a less purposeful response. Scores of 3 and below denote more severe levels of impaired responsiveness, such as flexor posturing or extension in response to pain, indicating a diminished ability to follow commands.

Therefore, a score of 6 clearly identifies that the patient is capable of obeying commands, showcasing higher cognitive function and conscious awareness compared to lower scores on the scale