Responsiveness and Validity of Three Outcome Measures of Motor Function After Stroke Rehabilitation

Abstract

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

Adapted Tai Chi Enhances Upper Limb Motor Control in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

“…The mean self-practice time of participants in the first month was 3.5 ± 1.8 h, and this increased significantly in the second and third month by 6.0 ± 3.7 and 6.97 ± 4.7 h respectively. They were stratified into three functional subgroups based has established construct, criterion validity and good reliability [34][35][36][37]. WMFT is composed of functional ability, time and strength parts, including 15 function and time-based tasks using a 6-point functional ability scale to rate the quality of movement while simultaneously recording performance time, and two strength-based tasks (lifting the weighted limb and grip strength).…”

Responsiveness and validity of three dexterous function measures in stroke rehabilitation

“…A total scale score maximum of 57 indicates normal performance. The ARAT has established reliability, validity, and responsiveness in patients with stroke [6][7][8]21].…”

“…The findings of Van der Lee et al suggest that the ARAT is more responsive to improvement in UL function than the FMA in patients with chronic stroke undergoing forced-use treatment [21]. In contrast, Hsieh et al reported that the FMA may be a better measure of motor function with respect to responsiveness and validity than the ARAT and WMFT [6]. Differences in the usage of responsiveness indices, training paradigms, and time after onset of stroke may contribute to the conflicting results among studies.…”

“…In the past 5 years, a number of UL function tests have been examined for their psychometric and clinimetric properties in people with stroke, including the FuglMeyer Assessment (FMA) [6][7][8], Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) [6,[9][10][11], Box and Block Test (BBT) [7,[12][13][14], Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT) [12,[15][16][17], Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) [6][7][8]11,[16][17][18], and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) [16,[19][20]. The comparisons of outcome measures of UL motor function have been investigated in patients with stroke [6][7]16,21].…”

“…The comparisons of outcome measures of UL motor function have been investigated in patients with stroke [6][7]16,21]. The findings of Van der Lee et al suggest that the ARAT is more responsive to improvement in UL function than the FMA in patients with chronic stroke undergoing forced-use treatment [21].…”