Comparison of the Test-Retest Reliability of Clinical Measure and Kinematic Analysis of Upper Extremity in Patients with Stroke=比較中風病人 上肢動作量表及運動學分析之再測信度

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Clinical scales and laboratory tools to evaluate functional recovery of upper extremity (UE) in patients with stroke are common in rehabilitation clinic. This study compared the test-retest reliability of the Upper Extremity subscale of the Fugl-Meyer assessment ( UE-FM) with UE reaching kinematic data from motion analysis system for stroke patients. Methods: The measures were administered to thirty chronic participants (28.8 22.7 months after stroke) at baseline and 7 days later. Reaching kinematic data including peak velocity (PV), movement time (MT), and normalized movement trajectory (NMT) were acquired using the ultrasound-based computerized motion analysis system. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) were used to examine the test-retest reliability. Results: Test-retest agreements were excellent for the UE-FM measure, PV, MT and NMT (ICCs 8805;0.89). Furthermore, the MDC%s of UE-FM and NMT were 13.8% (5.5/39.8 ) and 10.2% (7.2/0.6), respectively, indicated smaller measurement errors than PV 22.8% (0.3/1.3) and MT 30.7% (0.4 /1.3). Conclusion: The UE-FM and NMT have high agreement between the test-retest measurements with acceptable measurement errors. The two measures can be used for clinicians to assess the UE reaching performance and monitor changes over time in stroke patients.