Testing a motor performance series and a kinematic motion analysis as measures of performance in high-functioning stroke patients: Reliability, validity, and responsiveness to therapeutic intervention

Objective: To assess measurement properties of motor performance tests when used with high-functioning stroke patients. Design: Test-retest reliability study with an interval of 2 days; responsiv eness study with assessment before and after training; validity study asses sing the tests' ability to discriminate between the high-functioning stroke patients and healthy subjects. Setting: Referral center for neurorehabilitation. Participants: Twenty-nine high motor-functioning stroke patients and 20 hea lthy control subjects. Intervention: Two special training sessions per day on 5 consecutive days, plus regular therapy. Outcome Measures: Scores on the motor performance series, a two-dimensional tracking test, and a kinematic task analysis. Results: All tests (except the bimanual test) were able to document perform ance deficits with these patients and showed a moderately high to high test -retest reliability without systematic trend from test to retest (intraclas s correlation coefficients for main variables, .61 to .89). The kinematic t ask especially demonstrated changes after training (standardized response m eans for timing variables, .53 to .66). A subset of variables indicated a m odifying effect of limb side, age, and gender. Conclusion: All tests (except the bimanual test) can be used for both cross -sectional and follow-up group studies with high-functioning stroke patient s. Measurement properties and the lack of comprehensive normative data limi t their use with individual patients. (C) 1999 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and R ehabilitation.