title: [Validation of "Action Research Arm Test" (ARAT) in Chilean patients with a paretic upper limb after a stroke].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is one of the main causes of disability and death in the world. Sixty three percent of stroke survivors require rehabilitation which is a complex functional recovery multidisciplinary task.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the psychometric properties of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), that is used to assess the functional recovery of a paretic upper limb.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty stroke survivors were assessed at their homes as a baseline and two months later applying ARAT and Motor Activity Log (MAL-30) assessments. In the latter evaluation quality of life was assessed with SIS 3.0 score and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) was applied. Participants received no intervention in the lapse between the two assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach a values for ARAT were 0.88 and 0.89 at baseline and two months assessments, respectively. Temporary stability had an r value of 0. 93 (p < 0.01). The convergent validity with quality of movement of MAL-30 was r = 0.58 and r = 0.51. The figures with quantity of movement were r = 0.55 and r = 0.57. The convergent validity with SIS 3.0 was r = 0.53 for the hand, r = 0.57 for participation and r = 0.48 for recovery. ARATscores correlated inversely and significantly with age and pain. There was no discriminant validity between ARAT and emotion, memory, communication and mobility of SIS 3.0, GHQ-30 and the socio-economic level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ARAT is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the functional recovery of paretic upper limbs after a stroke.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría y Cirugía Infantil, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: S Arlette
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doussoulin
authors.forename: S Rodrigo
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: S Viviana
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011594:Psychometrics; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult