Table 2.

Performance and self-report measures commonly used to assess upper extremity function after stroke

Performance Assessments
Name	Time to administer	Reliability	Relation to other measures (Concurrent Validity)	Estimate of MCID*	Strengths	Weaknesses
Action Research Arm Test	10-15 min	Intrarater r=0.99 Interrater r=0.98 Test-retest r=0.98	r=0.91-.94 with Fugl- Meyer; r=0.96 with Motor Assessment Scale ; r=0.87 with Motricity Index; r = 0.93 with CAHAI	6 pts (chronic stroke); 12 points (acute stroke - dominant hand); 17 points (acute stroke - nondominant hand)	Quick; Easily administered; Appropriate at all stages of recovery	Not commerciallyavailable, but can be built from published instructions
Box & Blocks Test (BB)	5-10 min	Intrarater ICC= no established studies Interrater ICC= 0.99 Test-retest ICC= 0.96	r=0.92 with Fugl- Meyer; r=0.95 with ARAT	6 blocks with affected hand	Quick; Easily administered	Requires at least minimal distal volitional control
Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI)	25 min	Intrarater ICC= no established studies Interrater ICC= 0.98 Test-retest ICC= 0.96 - .97	r = 0.93 with ARAT	6.3 points	Easily administered; Shorter versions of the test exist if time is a concern; Free to use	Takes longer than other measures that capture the same information
Jebson-Taylor Hand Function Test	15-20 min	Interrater ICC= 0.82- 1.00	rs= 0.84-.97 with 9- Hole Peg Test; rs= 0.87-.95 with ARAT	unknown	Standardized instructions; good measure when the ceiling is achieved on other shorter measures	Requires at least minimal distal and proximal volitional control
Nine-Hole Peg Test	10 min	Interrater/Test-retest: r= 0.68-.99	rs= 0.84-.97 with Jebsen-Taylor rs= 0.85-.93 with ARAT	32.8 seconds with affected hand	Quick; Inexpensive to purchase	Most appropriate for higher performing individuals
Wolf Motor Function Test	30 minutes	Interrater ICC= 0.85- 0.97 Test-retest ICC= 0.94- 0.99	rs= 0.86 (FAS) with ARAT rs= 0.89 (time) with ARAT	1.5-2 sec (WMFT time - chronic stroke); 19 seconds (WMFT time -acute stroke); 0.2-0.4 pts (WMFT FAS)	Standardized instructions; Appropriate at all stages of recovery	Takes longer than other measures that capture the same information
Self Rating Assessments
Motor Activity Log	15-20 minutes	Test-retest ICC= 0.79- 0.82	rs=0 .35-.39 (QOM scale) with ARAT rs= 0.31-.32 (AOU scale) with ARAT rs= −0.26- −.33 (QOM scale) with 9-Hole Peg Test rs= −0.16- −.23 (AOU scale) with 9-Hole Peg Test rs= −0.52 (QOM scale) with BB rs= −0.37-.49 (AOU scale) with BB r=0.52-.66 (QOM scale) with accelerometry	1.0-1.1 pts on the quality of movement scale	Inexpensive; Tries to capture real-world abilities; Easy to administer	Takes longer than other interviews; Relies on self ratings
Stroke Impact Scale (ADL and Hand Function Subscales)	5 minutes each subscale	Test-retest: ICC= .70-.92	rs= 0.57-.73 with ARAT rs= 0.61-.83 with Jebsen-Taylor rs= 0.53-.66 with 9- Hole Peg Test	ADL/IADL = 5.9 pts Hand function = 17.8 pts	Inexpensive; Tries to capture real- world abilities; Easy to administer	Relies on self- ratings

^*Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) has been defined as “the smallest difference in score in the domain of interest which patients perceive as beneficial and which would mandate, in the absence of troublesome side effects and excessive cost, a change in the patient’s management” ¹²⁵. Note that these values are labeled as estimates because they are likely influenced by the time post-stroke and the severity of functional loss.