Changes in Upper-Extremity Functional Capacity and Daily Performance During Outpatient Occupational Therapy for People With Stroke.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study explored how upper-extremity (UE) functional capacity and daily performance change during the course of outpatient rehabilitation in people with stroke.

METHOD:

Fifteen participants receiving outpatient occupational therapy services for UE paresis poststroke were enrolled. UE motor capacity was measured with the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and UE performance was measured using bilateral, wrist-worn accelerometers. Measurements were taken at or near the start of therapy, at every 10th visit or every 30 days throughout the duration of services, and at discharge.

RESULTS:

Three patterns were observed: (1) increase in ARAT scores and more normalized accelerometry profiles, (2) increase in ARAT scores but no change in accelerometry profiles, and (3) no change in ARAT scores or in accelerometry profiles.

CONCLUSION:

UE performance in daily life was highly variable, with inconsistencies between change in UE capacity and change in UE performance. UE capacity and performance are important constructs to assess separately during rehabilitation.

• Authors: Caitlin A Doman, Kimberly J Waddell, Ryan R Bailey, Jennifer L Moore, Catherine E Lang
• Journal: The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association (Am J Occup Ther) 2016 May-Jun Vol. 70 Issue 3 Pg. 7003290040p1-7003290040p11 ISSN: 0272-9490 [Print] United States
• PMID: 27089298 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Topics

• Activities of Daily Living
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Disability Evaluation
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Therapy (methods)
• Outpatients (statistics & numerical data)
• Paresis (etiology, physiopathology, rehabilitation)
• Pilot Projects
• Psychomotor Performance (physiology)
• Recovery of Function
• Stroke (complications, diagnosis)
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Treatment Outcome
• Upper Extremity (physiopathology)