title: Measurement of upper-extremity function early after stroke: properties of the action research arm test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the responsiveness and validity of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) in a population of subjects with mild-to-moderate hemiparesis within the first few months after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected as part of the Very Early Constraint-Induced Therapy for Recovery from Stroke trial, an acute, single-blind randomized controlled trial of constraint-induced movement therapy. Subjects were studied at baseline (day 0), after treatment (day 14), and after 90 days (day 90) poststroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient rehabilitation hospital; follow-up 3 months poststroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty hemiparetic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  At each time point, subjects were tested on: (1) the ARAT, (2) clinical measures of sensorimotor impairments, (3) in the kinematics laboratory where they performed reach and grasp movements, and (4) clinical measures of disability. Blinded raters performed all evaluations. Analyses at each time point included calculating effect size as indicators of responsiveness, and correlation and regression analyses to examine relationships between ARAT scores and other measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ARAT is responsive to change, with effect sizes greater than 1.0 and responsiveness ratios of 7.0 at 3 months poststroke. ARAT scores were related to sensorimotor impairment measures, 3-dimensional kinematic measures of movement performance, and disability measures at all 3 time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ARAT is a responsive and valid measure of upper-extremity functional limitation and therefore may be an appropriate measure for use in acute upper-extremity rehabilitation trials.
authors.affiliation: Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis MO 63108, USA. langc@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dromerick
authors.forename: Dorothy F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*