Longitudinal Stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.12.041
• Publication Date: 2008-07-31T12:56:32Z
• Authors: Michelle L. Woodbury; Craig A. Velozo; Lorie G. Richards; Pamela W. Duncan; Stephanie Studenski; Sue-Min Lai
• Keywords: Longitudinal Study; Differential item functioning

To investigate the longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the upper-extremity item difficulties by using Rasch analysis.Secondary analysis of existing data from a cohort longitudinal study of stroke recovery.University research center.A total of 377 people, ages 69.2+/-11.2 years, to whom the assessment was administered at 2 weeks and 6 months poststroke.Not applicable.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.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.The 30-item assessment shows a longitudinally stable item difficulty order and is valid for measuring volitional arm motor ability over time.