Article

OBJECTIVE: To extend the applicability of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) to
describe the residual functional abilities of moderate to severely affected
stroke patients. DESIGN: Data were collected as part of 2 double-blind,
sham-controlled, randomized interventional studies: the Transcranial Direct
Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Chronic Stroke Recovery and the tDCS Enhanced
Stroke Recovery and Cortical Reorganization. Stroke patients were evaluated with
the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer (UFM) and the WMFT in the same setting before
treatment. SETTING: University inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient clinic.
PARTICIPANTS: Stroke patients (N=32) with moderate to severe hemiparesis enrolled
in the tDCS in Chronic Stroke Recovery and the tDCS Enhanced Stroke Recovery and
Cortical Reorganization studies. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: WMFT scores were calculated using (1) median performance times and (2)
a new calculation using the mean rate of performance. We compared the
distribution of values from the 2 methods and examined the WMFT-UFM correlation
for the traditional and the new calculation. RESULTS: WMFT rate values were more
evenly distributed across their range than median WMFT time scores. The
association between the WMFT rate and UFM was as good as the association between
the median WMFT time scores and UFM (Spearman rho, .84 vs -.79). CONCLUSIONS: The
new WMFT mean rate of performance is valid and a more sensitive measure in
describing the functional activities of the moderate to severely affected upper
extremity of stroke subjects and avoids the pitfalls of the median WMFT time
calculations.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS