Abstract
Introduction The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most widely used tool to evaluate impaired consciousness in the acute phase. The best motor response of the GCS is difficult to learn because it is graded into a 6-point scale. Our aim was to facilitate mastery of the GCS by medical personnel with a new method called the Ajimi Exercise. We also showed its integrated achievement in a training course for learning the GCS. Methods We introduced a new method called the Ajimi Exercise to memorize 6 movements of the best motor response by acting only once. The Ajimi Exercise relates the posture of the upper limbs in each level of the best motor response to the corresponding number of that level. The Ajimi Exercise was used in the GCS skills section of the Japan Advanced Trauma Evaluation and Care (JATEC) course, which is a training course of trauma for medical doctors. Results The number of participants in the JATEC courses increased to more than 6,000 in 183 courses over the last 7 years. The GCS has become more popular in Japan because of JATEC and the Ajimi Exercise. Conclusion We conclude that the Ajimi Exercise is a useful method to learn the best motor response of the GCS. We also recommend that medical personnel revise their fundamental knowledge about neurophysiology to better understand the method.
