title: Longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the upper extremity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA. mwoodbur@phhp.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Woodbury
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Velozo
authors.forename: Lorie G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Pamela W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Studenski
authors.forename: Sue-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: 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