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Hernández Álvarez E.1, Landinez Parra N.1, Forero Espinosa S.2, Barbosa Meneses N.2, Galeano Navarro C.2, Nordin A.3, Alt Murphy M.3, Stibrant Sunnerhagen K.3
1National University of Colombia, Human Movement Department, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Central Military Hospital Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, 3University of Gothenburg, Inst. of Neuroscience and Physiology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden
Background: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is the most widely used clinical scale for evaluation of sensorimotor impairment post stroke, it is considered to be the gold standard for the assessment in this patients; it has a higher reliability for upper extremity for motor function and it can be a significant contribution to physiotherapeutic assessment and practice.
Purpose: The present study aims to examine the intra and inter-rater reliability of the Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) in person with stroke at Central Military Hospital of Colombia.
Methods: Sixty participants (median age 65), subacute phase post stroke, were included in the study. The FMA-UE was performed by two physiotherapists simultaneously, but independently at two consecutive days. Statistical method of Elizabeth Svensson was used to assets the level of agreement and the systematic disagreements in assessments with relative position (RP) and relative concentration (RC) and relative rank variance (RV).
Results: Excellent intra-rater and inter-rater agreement was found for the FMA-UE. The level of agreement between raters varied from 80 and 100 % and between the first and the second occasion from 82 and 100 %. However, some level of disagreement was detected for items of coordination for dismetría (Part V, level D) between raters RP=-0.0206 , RC=0.040 and RV=0.035 Rater B between raters, in the pronation supination for voluntary movement (Part IV, level A), between A and B were found, 88 % and 82 %, RP=0.0344, RC=0.001 and RV= 0.035 rater B.
Conclusion(s): The FMA UE showed excellent reliability in the assessment of upper extremity in patients with stroke in subacute phase. The testing intra and inter-rater, found little systematic disagreements, thust the test is recommended in this population.
Implications: Having reliable measuring instruments for upper extremity allows the physiotherapists to make a more objective assessment which in turn improves the quality of care in persons post stroke.
Funding acknowledgements: Central Military Hospital, National University of Colombia, the funding offered by the Central Military Hospital Research Project No. 2013059
Topic: Neurology: stroke
Ethics approval: hospitals Research Ethics Committees by means of the Committees Act No. 9 from its June 12, 2013 session.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
