title: Correlation between the action research arm test and the box and block test of upper extremity function in stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to determine the correlation between the scores of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Box and Block Test (BBT), commonly used tests of upper extremity (UE)function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty first-time subacute stroke patients without severe cognitive, language, or motion impairment were administered the ARAT and BBT before and after participating in a 4-week rehabilitation program. Their scores were analyzed by Wilcoxon sign-rank testing and by Spearman's rank correlation, standardized response mean, and scatter-plot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ARAT and the BBT scores have a high level of responsiveness to change and are highly correlated. The BBThas afloor effect compared with the ARAT while the ARAT has a small ceiling effect compared with the BBT CONCLUSION: The ARAT and the BBT scores have excellent concurrent validity and are highly responsive to change, indicating that the BBT can effectively assess UE function.
authors.affiliation: Department ofRehabilitation Medicine, Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. cpaphan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ratanapat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chanubol
authors.forename: Parit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wongphaet
authors.forename: Napapit Chavanich
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Ot
authors.forename: Waree
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chira-Adisai
authors.forename: Patcharawimol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuptniratsaikul
authors.forename: Chattaya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jitpraphai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*