Can the Wolf Motor Function Test be streamlined?
BACKGROUND
To assess upper extremity (UE) capabilities following stroke, the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) measures time to complete 15 UE tasks and 2 strength tasks, but takes 30 to 45 minutes for the clinician to complete.


OBJECTIVE
In an effort to streamline the WMFT, this study evaluated the association between the magnitude of improvement on any timed task of the WMFT and the change score on all other tasks among participants in the Extremity Constraint Induced Therapy Evaluation (EXCITE) trial.


METHODS
This association was evaluated using regression methods according to chronicity and controlling for key covariates (functional level, gender, concordance) for log mean WMFT scores.


RESULTS
After controlling for covariates, 6 tasks (hand to table [front], hand to box [front], reach and retrieve, lift can, lift pencil, and fold towel) influenced the overall WMFT score for survivors meeting EXCITE criteria and treated within 3 to 9 months poststroke. Six different tasks (extend elbow weight, hand to box [front], lift can, lift pencil, turn key in lock, and fold towel) influenced the overall WMFT score for those receiving constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) 1 year later. The importance of certain tasks relative to others may best represent overall UE function, but this streamlining enables the clinician to prioritize these tasks in the evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
The delineation of those tasks depends on the time poststroke from enrollment to CIMT. This study demonstrates that the WMFT can be streamlined from 17 to 6 tasks.
Bogard
Kimberly
K
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. KBogard@learnlink.edu
Wolf
Steven
S
Zhang
Qin
Q
Thompson
Paul
P
Morris
David
D
Nichols-Larsen
Deborah
D
D017677:Age Distribution; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis