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The change score of an individual patient has to reach 24.0, 17.3, 15.1, and 25.9 on the 4 subscales to indicate a true change. The mean change scores of a stroke group on the 4 subscales should reach 9.2, 5.9, 4.5, and 17.8 points to be regarded as clinically important changes. Future research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these estimates.

Background and Purpose-This study investigated and compared the responsiveness and validity of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) for patients after stroke rehabilitation. Methods-A total of 57 patients with stroke received 1 of 3 rehabilitation treatments for 3 weeks. At pretreatment and posttreatment, the 3 outcome measures, as well as the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) as the external criterion, were administered. The standardized response mean (SRM) and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to examine the responsiveness. Construct validity and predictive validity were examined by the Spearman correlation coefficient (). Results-The responsiveness of the FMA, ARAT, and WMFT functional ability scores was large (SRMϭ0.95-1.42), whereas the WMFT performance time score was small (SRMϭ0.38). The responsiveness of the FMA was significantly larger than those of the ARAT and the WMFT-TIME, but not the WMFT functional ability scores. With respect to construct validity, correlations between the FMA and other measures were relatively high (ϭ0.42-0.76). The FMA and the WMFT performance time scores at pretreatment had moderate predictive validity with the FIM scores at posttreatment (ϭ0.42-0.47). In addition, the ARAT and the WMFT functional ability scores revealed a low predictive validity with the FIM (ϭ0.17-0.26). Conclusions-The

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BAT may uniquely improve proximal UL motor impairment. In contrast, distributed CIT may produce greater functional gains for the affected UL in subjects with mild to moderate chronic hemiparesis.

In addition to improving functional use of the affected arm and daily functioning, modified constraint-induced movement therapy improved motor control strategy during goal-directed reaching, a possible mechanism for the improved movement performance of stroke patients undergoing this therapy.

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Symmetrical and bilateral robotic practice, combined with functional task training, can significantly improve motor function, arm activity, and self-perceived bilateral arm ability in patients late after stroke.