Longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the upper extremity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the upper-extremity item difficulties by using Rasch analysis.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of existing data from a cohort longitudinal study of stroke recovery.


METHODS
University research center.


METHODS
A total of 377 people, ages 69.2+/-11.2 years, to whom the assessment was administered at 2 weeks and 6 months poststroke.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Differential item function analysis performed by using the Winsteps software program examined whether the item difficulty hierarchical order of a modified 30-item FMA for the upper extremity (reflex items removed) was invariant across 2 testing occasions.


RESULTS
Only 2 items (shoulder flexion to 180 degrees, movement with normal speed) showed large differences in test-retest item difficulty calibration. Item instability had no practical consequences on the longitudinal measurement of person ability.


CONCLUSIONS
The 30-item assessment shows a longitudinally stable item difficulty order and is valid for measuring volitional arm motor ability over time.
Woodbury
Michelle L
ML
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA. mwoodbur@phhp.ufl.edu
Velozo
Craig A
CA
Richards
Lorie G
LG
Duncan
Pamela W
PW
Studenski
Stephanie
S
Lai
Sue-Min
SM
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D011187:Posture; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation