Responsiveness of two upper extremity function instruments for stroke inpatients receiving rehabilitation

Objective: To compare the responsiveness of the Action Research Arm test (ARAT) and the upper extremity section of the Motor Assessment Scale (UE-MAS) in assessing the recovery of upper extremity function in stroke inpatients receiving rehabilitation. Subjects: Forty-eight stroke inpatients. Setting: The physical medicine and rehabilitation department of a medical centre. Design: The patients were tested at admission and at discharge from the department. Methods: Various indices, including effect size d, Wilcoxon test and Spearman's rho, were used to assess responsiveness. The change in score of the upper extremity subscale of the Fugl-Meyer scale was used as the external criterion. Results: The responsiveness indices of both total scores of the ARAT and UE-MAS are generally moderate and similar (d = 0.52, Wilcoxon Z = 5.03, p < 0.001 and rho = 0.66 for the ARAT; of = 0.45, Z = 4.54, p < 0.001 and rho = 0.7 for the UE-MAS). Responsiveness indices are small to moderate and similar in each of the subscales of both instruments. Conclusion: The results of this study support the value of the ARAT and UE-MAS for measuring recovery of upper extremity function in stroke patients.