Clinimetric properties of the shortened Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the assessment of arm motor function in hemiparetic patients after stroke

ABSTRACT

Background

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is widely used as the gold standard in stroke research. However, the FMA has not been used in general clinical practice, which may be related to the fact that the FMA is a time-consuming measurement. Therefore, the FMA (upper extremity motor section) has already been shortened to a 6-item version using Rasch analysis for routine assessments of patients with low endurance. Although the shortened FMA has already demonstrated sound clinical utility, data on its psychometric properties remain insufficient.     

Clinimetric properties of the Fugl-Meyer assessment with adapted guidelines for the assessment of arm function in hemiparetic patients after stroke

Background: Against the background of linguistic and cultural differences, there is a need for translation and adaptation from the English version of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) to Japanese. In addition, there is no study of inter-rater reliability of FMA all domains for affected upper extremities with appropriate sample size based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) focusing on non-simultaneous assessment.

Objective: This study aimed (1) to translate the English version of the FMA and its administration/scoring manual; and (2) to investigate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the FMA in patients with stroke.

Methods: A prospective single-center study involving 30 patients was conducted. The FMA and the Action Research Arm Test, the Box-and-Block Test, and the Motor Activity Log were employed. The inter-rater/intra-rater reliability, the internal consistency, the validity, and the floor/ceiling effects were assessed.

Results: Regarding the non-simultaneous and simultaneous inter-rater reliability, ICC ranged from 0.809–0.983 (P<0.001) and 0.991–0.999 (P<0.001), respectively. Regarding the simultaneous intra-rater reliability, ICC ranged from 0.994–0.999 (P<0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.973 in the non-simultaneous evaluation and 0.981 in the simultaneous evaluation. Regarding the validity, Spearman’s rhos were higher than 0.92 for the FMA all domains and motor domain. The patients who showed the highest score and the lowest score of the FMA (all domains and motor domain) were 10% and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions: The Japanese version of the FMA motor domain and all domains can reliably assess the affected upper extremities in patients with mild-to-severe hemiparesis after stroke for both non-simultaneous and simultaneous assessment.     

Effects of dynamic lycra orthosis as an adjunct to rehabilitation after botulinum toxin-A injection of the upper-limb in adults following stroke: A single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study

ABSTRACT

Background

Dynamic lycra splints are proposed to modify hypertonicity due to their characteristics – neutral warmth, circumferential pressure, and creating a low-intensity prolonged stretch on hypertonic muscles – to contribute to increased sensory awareness of the involved limb.     

Constraint-induced movement therapy in treatment of acute and sub-acute stroke: a meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy in acute and sub-acute stroke.DATA SOURCES: The key words were stroke, cerebrovascular accident, constraint-induced therapy, forced use, and randomized controlled trial. The databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, Weipu Information Resources System, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Pub Med, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, were searched for studies on randomized controlled trials for treating acute or sub-acute stroke published before March 2016. DATA SELECTION: We retrieved relevant randomized controlled trials that compared constraint-induced movement therapy in treatment of acute or sub-acute stroke with traditional rehabilitation therapy(traditional occupational therapy). Patients were older than 18 years, had disease courses less than 6 months, and were evaluated with at least one upper extremity function scale. Study quality was evaluated, and data that met the criteria were extracted. Stata 11.0 software was used for the meta-analysis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Fugl-Meyer motor assessment of the arm, the action research-arm test, a motor activity log for amount of use and quality of movement, the Wolf motor function test, and a modified Barthel index.RESULTS: A total of 16 prospective randomized controlled trials(379 patients in the constraint-induced movement-therapy group and 359 in the control group) met inclusion criteria. Analysis showed significant mean differences in favor of constraint-induced movement therapy for the Fugl–Meyer motor assessment of the arm(weighted mean difference(WMD) = 10.822; 95% confidence intervals(95% CI): 7.419–14.226), the action research-arm test(WMD = 10.718; 95% CI: 5.704–15.733), the motor activity log for amount of use and quality of movement(WMD = 0.812; 95% CI: 0.331–1.293) and the modified Barthel index(WMD = 10.706; 95% CI: 4.417–16.966). CONCLUSION: Constraint-induced movement therapy may be more beneficial than traditional rehabilitation therapy for improving upper limb function after acute or sub-acute stroke.     

Prognostic factors in stroke rehabilitation: the possible role of pharmacological treatment

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of commonly used and potentially detrimental drugs on rehabilitation results and to clarify their role as prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 154 patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital for sequelae of a first stroke. Multivariate analyses were performed using effectiveness of treatment, evaluated by both the Barthel Index (BI) and the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and low response on both of these indexes as dependent variables. Independent variables were medical, demographic and pharmacological factors. RESULTS: The use of detrimental drugs was negatively associated with effectiveness on both BI and RMI. Severity of stroke (Canadian Neurological Scale score at admission) and hemineglect were the other negative prognostic factors that significantly entered the analyses. On the other hand, the presence of Broca's aphasia positively influenced the recovery, essentially due to prolonged length of stay. The presence of detrimental drugs and hemineglect were associated with a higher risk of low response on both BI and RMI. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that the use of some drugs can influence rehabilitation results. Therefore, the choice of pharmacological treatment of stroke patients should be carefully evaluated by considering the potential detrimental effects of some drugs commonly used for the treatment of coincidental medical conditions.     

Predictors of major improvement after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis improves outcomes of stroke patients. The immediate response to thrombolysis is variable and few studies attempted to identify predictors of major neurological improvement (MNI) 24 h following thrombolysis. Our objective is to determine predictors of MNI 24 h following thrombolysis. Methods: We reviewed the prospective database of patients treated through our telestroke network and at our institution between November 2008 and June 2012. We included all patients who received IV t-PA and had a 24-h NIHSS score available. Similar to previous studies, we defined MNI as a reduction in NIHSS score by ≥8 points, or a score of 0 or 1 at 24 h. Demographics, risk factors, time to treatment, and clinical and laboratory data, were compared between MNI present or absent. Baseline predictors were compared using t- and Fisher's exact tests, and outcomes using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Out of 316 patients, 306 had 24-h NIHSS scores and 38% of them experienced MNI. Patients with MNI were less likely to be older than 80 years (16% vs. 29%, p = 0.008) and to have atrial fibrillation (9% vs. 24%, p = 0.001) compared to those without; we found no other predictors of MNI. After adjusting for baseline demographics and risk factors, age less than 80 years (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.6) and absence of atrial fibrillation (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2) predicted MNI. Conclusion: Major neurological improvement within 24 h after thrombolysis is more likely in younger patients and those without atrial fibrillation.     

早期康复治疗对急性脑卒中患者生活质量的影响

目的探索早期康复治疗对急性脑卒中患者生存质量的影响。方法入选2008年1月～2010年11月收治的急性脑卒中患者150例,其中康复组80例,对照组70名,对所有患者在入院24 h内及入院后21 d、35 d采用神经功能缺损评分(NIHSS)评定其肢体运动功能状态,于治疗后35 d采用Barthel指数(BI)评定其日常生活活动能力,采用脑卒中生存质量量表(QOF)评定其生活质量,同时统计住院费用。结果康复组患者的肢体功能缺损评分在治疗后明显低于对照组患者(P<0.05),BI评分及QOF评分明显高于对照组(P<0.05),而住院费用明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论早期康复治疗可以明显促进卒中患者肢体功能的恢复,增强患者的自理能力,减轻患者负担,提高患者的生活质量。     

Evaluation of a German version of the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) in acute and chronic stroke patients

The English Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) has been proposed as a simple, valid and reliable measure in stroke rehabilitation. A German version was established and validated in two centres. In centre A 46 acute (median: 3.0 days after onset) and in centre B 151 chronic (median: 88.0 days after onset) stroke patients participated. Interrater reliability of the German RMI was tested in 12 subjects in the acute stage of stroke and was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001). In centre A, a statistically significant correlation was found between the German RMI and the 10-m walk time at baseline (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001) and after three weeks (r = 0.92, P < 0.0001). In centre B, the German RMI correlated significantly with the motor part of the Functional Independence Measure (motor-FIM) on admission (r = 0.78, P < 0.0001) and after three weeks (r = 0.79, P < 0.0001), respectively. The change of the RMI correlated significantly with the change in 10-m walk time in acute patients (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001) and with the change in motor-FIM in chronic patients (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001). A moderate ceiling-effect was detected in the chronic study population. The German RMI appears to be a reliable, valid and responsive measure for mobility disability in acute and chronic stroke patients.     

Clinical factors associated with the development of nonuse learned after stroke: a prospective study

Background: Upper extremity impairment is present in most of people with stroke. The use of the affected upper extremity can be impacted not only by physical impairment but also by abehavioral phenomenon called learned nonuse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate which clinical factors in the acute phase are associated with the development of learned nonuse in the upper extremity after stroke.

Methods: This cohort study included 38 patients with ischemic stroke. Hospital discharge data were collected for clinical aspects, scales of severity, incapacity and autonomy, as well as for neuromuscular and sensory evaluations. At 90 days after hospital discharge, the score on the Motor Activity Log scale for detecting learned nonuse was obtained, and life quality was evaluated by the EuroQol. The individuals with and without learned nonuse were compared by attest for univariate analysis, and ageneralized linear model was employed to find possible predictors, which were considered significant p <0.05.

Results: In the statistical model, age (p= .006), severity at discharge (p= .036), handgrip strength (p= .000), altered sensitivity (p= .011), incapacity at discharge (p= .009) and autonomy at discharge (p= .011) were found to be associated with learned nonuse. In relation to quality of life, mobility, personal care, usual activities, anxiety, depression and perception had lower mean values in the learned nonuse group.

Conclusion: Age, severity of stroke, incapacity and neuromuscular and sensory compromises are associated with upper extremity learned nonuse in stroke patients.     

电脑康复治疗仪联合超早期强化运动康复治疗脑卒中的疗效

目的 探讨电脑康复治疗仪联合超早期强化运动康复对脑卒中患者运动功能及生活质量的影响。方法 选取首都医科大学附属北京潞河医院2017年6月至2020年9月收治的150例脑卒中患者,分为观察组(67例)与对照组(74例)。对照组实施电脑康复治疗仪治疗,观察组患者在对照组基础上联合超早期强化运动康复治疗。比较2组患者治疗前后简化Fugl-Meyer量表评分、改良阿什沃思量表评分、Brunnstrom分级、生活质量综合评定问卷、凝血功能[凝血酶原时间(prothrombin time,PT)、凝血酶原活动度(prothrombin activity,PTA)]、血常规及同型半胱氨酸水平。结果 治疗后,观察组患者简化Fugl-Meyer量表评分(75.63±10.84)高于对照组(47.29±8.75)(P<0.05);改良阿什沃思量表评分(0.57±0.13)低于对照组(1.82±0.25)(P<0.05)。治疗3个月后,观察组患者Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级患者比例均显著低于对照组(P<0.05);Ⅲ级、Ⅳ级、Ⅴ级患者比例均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗3个月后,观察组患者生活质...     

Rasch analysis in the development of a rating scale for assessment of mobility after stroke

The study describes the development of a rating scale for assessment of mobility after stroke. It was based on 74 first-stroke patients, 40 men and 34 women, each assessed three times during rehabilitation. Their median age was 69 years, and they represented all degrees of severity of paresis. Content, construct, criterion and convergent validity were examined, as well as the inter-rater reliability. The final rating scale has three special characteristics: 1) it reflects the regularity in the recovery of mobility after stroke; 2) the sum of item scores comprises the information contained in the 10-item subscores; 3) the score sum is independent of age, side of hemiparesis, and gender of the patient. Latent trait analysis (Rasch) was found to be an ideal model for statistical investigation of these properties.     

Delirium in the first days of acute stroke

Abstract.Background and Purpose: Delirium is an acute, transient disorder of cognition and consciousness with fluctuating intensity. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the risk factors for delirium in the first days after stroke onset.Patients and methods: We assessed delirium prospectively in a sample of 218 consecutive patients (mean age 57 years) with an acute ( 4 days) stroke (28 subarachnoid haemorrhages, 48 intracerebral haemorrhages, 142 cerebral infarcts) and in a control group of 50 patients with acute coronary syndromes with the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) (cut-off score 10).Results: 29 (13%) acute stroke patients (mean DRS score = 13.2, SD = 2.3) and only one (2 %) acute coronary patient had delirium (² = 5.2, p = 0.02). In nine patients delirium was secondary to stroke without any additional cause, in 10 patients there were also medical complications and in the remaining 10 there were multiple potential causes for delirium. Delirium was more frequent after hemispherical than after brainstem/cerebellum strokes (p = 0.02). No other statistically significant associations with stroke locations were found. Medical complications (OR = 4.3; 95% CI = 1.8 to 10.2), neglect (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.3 to 9.2), intracerebral haemorrhage (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.3 to 7.5) and age 65 (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0 to 5.8) were independent factors to the development of delirium in stroke patients.Conclusion: Delirium was more frequent in stroke than in coronary acute patients. Among stroke patients, delirium was most frequent in older patients, in those with neglect, with medical complications and with intracerebral haemorrhages. These findings indicated that delirium in acute stroke patients 1) is not a non-specific consequence of acute disease and hospitalisation and 2) is secondary to hemisphere brain damage and to metabolic disturbances due to medical complications.Abbreviations DRS Delirium Rating Scale - GCS Glasgow Coma Scale - NIHSS Neurological Institute Health Stroke Scale - DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Text Reviewed - ICH Intracerebral Haemorrhage - INF Cerebral Infarct - SAH Subarachnoid Haemorrhage - SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences - ² Chi-square - OR Odds Ratios - 95% CI 95% Confidence Interval - U Mann-Whitney test - MCA Middle Cerebral Artery - PCA Posterior Cerebral Artery     

急性脑卒中老人接受神经营养药物联合早期康复治疗的转归

在1年的时间里,对入住浙江大学附属第一医院老年病科的60例老年急性脑卒中患者给予神经营养药物联合早期康复治疗,借助Hunt-Hess 量表、功能独立性评测、简易智力测定量表和日常生活能力量表,对患者入院时和出院时的肢体运动、认知功能和日常生活自理能力变化做出了评估。纳入的60位患者平均住院时间35 d。出院时有40例患者存在不同程度的认知功能损害,56例接受康复治疗评估的脑卒中患者中,25例（45%）在日常生活方面获得了自理能力,11例（20%）日常生活的部分时间里需要有人照顾,20例（36%）在基本生活上需要全天24 h有人照顾。     

A comparison of developmental versus functional assessment in the rehabilitation of young children

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in and potential uses of information derived from developmental vs. functional assessment during the acute rehabilitation of very young children with acquired brain injury. Both methods of assessment are typically used during hospitalization in order to assist in developing individualized goals and outcome measures. With the trend of shortened hospital stays, effective assessment for determining optimal treatment goals and outcomes becomes increasingly important. The results from a developmental and a functional assessment obtained on 23 inpatient children below 6 years of age who had experienced either an acquired brain injury or encephalitis were compared. The data was collected through a retrospective chart review spanning 4 years.

Methods and outcome measures: Each child received a cognitive and a language test using either the Early Learning Accomplishment Profile (E-LAP) or the Learning Accomplishment Profile Diagnostic (LAP-D) for the developmental assessment measure. The Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) was used as a functional assessment. Summary statistics and frequencies were calculated for variables including age and diagnosis. Partial Pearson correlations and 95% confidence intervals were calculated between the functional and developmental assessments, adjusting for the amount of time between administrations of the two exams. Pearson correlations were computed between length of hospital stay and performance on the developmental and functional quotients.

Results: Moderate, statistically significant Pearson partial correlations were found between the E-LAP/LAP-D cognitive quotient and the WeeFIM cognitive quotient (r?=?0.42, 95% CI (0, 0.72)), the E-LAP/LAP-D language quotient and the WeeFIM cognitive quotient (r?=?0.55, 95% CI (0.17, 0.79)) and the E-LAP/LAP-D cognitive quotient and the WeeFIM total quotient (r?=?0.50, 95% CI (0.10, 0.76)). An inverse correlation was found between the length of stay and the E-LAP/LAP-D cognitive quotient (r?=??0.68, 95% CI (?0.86, ?0.34)) as well as the E-LAP/LAP-D language quotient (r?=??0.61, 95% CI (?0.83, ?0.23)).

Conclusions: The moderate but limited correlations between developmental and functional assessments may be attributed to differences in the two forms of assessment including the test items, their administration and scoring. While both forms of assessment were thought to be useful for developing individualized treatment goals and measuring outcomes, there were advantages and disadvantages to each.     

Fear of falling in acute stroke: The Fall Study of Gothenburg (FallsGOT)

Objective Little is known about which factors are associated with a patient’s fear of falling (FoF) after acute stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate baseline variables and their association with FoF during rehabilitation in acute stroke.

Patients and methods The study population consisted of the 462 patients with acute stroke who were admitted to a stroke unit, included in the observational study “The Fall Study in Gothenburg (FallsGOT)” and were able to answer a single question: “Are you afraid of falling?” (Yes/No). To analyze any association between FoF and clinical variables, univariable and multivariable stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results In the stepwise multivariable regression analysis, only female sex (OR = 2.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–3.46, p = 0.0002]), the use of a walking aid (OR 3.40, [95% CI 2.12–5.43, p < 0.0001]), and postural control as assessed with the SwePASS total score were statistically significant associated with FoF. Among patients with a SwePASS score of 24 or less, the OR was 9.41 [95% CI 5.13–17.25, p < 0.0001] for FoF compared to patients with a SwePASS score of 31 or above; among the patients with a SwePASS score of 25–30, the OR was 2.29 [95% CI = 1.36–3.83, p = 0.0017].

Conclusions Our findings provide valuable insight for those involved in stroke rehabilitation during the acute phase after stroke. FoF is associated with poor postural control, female sex and the use of a walking aid.     

Significant variation in mortality and functional outcome after acute ischaemic stroke between Western countries: data from the tinzaparin in acute ischaemic stroke trial (TAIST)

BACKGROUND: The medical care of patients with acute stroke varies considerably between countries. This could lead to measurable differences in mortality and functional outcome. OBJECTIVE: To compare case mix, clinical management, and functional outcome in stroke between 11 countries. METHODS: All 1484 patients from 11 countries who were enrolled into the tinzaparin in acute ischaemic stroke trial (TAIST) were included in this substudy. Information collected prospectively on demographics, risk factors, clinical features, measures of service quality (for example, admission to a stroke unit), and outcome were assessed. Outcomes were adjusted for treatment assignment, case mix, and service relative to the British Isles. RESULTS: Differences in case mix (mostly minor) and clinical service (many of prognostic relevance) were present between the countries. Significant differences in outcome were present between the countries. When assessed by geographical region, death or dependency were lower in North America (odds ratio (OR) adjusted for treatment group only = 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.39 to 0.71) and north west Europe (OR = 0.54 (0.37 to 0.78)) relative to the British Isles; similar reductions were found when adjustments were made for 11 case mix variables and five service quality measures. Similarly, case fatality rates were lower in North America (OR = 0.44 (0.30 to 0.66)) and Scandinavia (OR = 0.50 (0.33 to 0.74)) relative to the British Isles, whether crude or adjusted for case mix and service quality. CONCLUSIONS: Both functional outcome and case fatality vary considerably between countries, even when adjusted for prognostic case mix variables and measures of good stroke care. Differing health care systems and the management of patients with acute stroke may contribute to these findings.     

Thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke in Austria: data from the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke (SITS) register

Background: We aimed at determining the safety and efficacy of IV alteplase in Austrian versus non‐Austrian centres as documented in the Internet‐based registers Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis for Stroke – MOnitoring STudy (SITS‐MOST) and – International Stroke Thrombolysis Register (SITS‐ISTR). Methods: We analysed patient data entered in the registers SITS‐MOST and SITS‐ISTR in the period December 2002 to 15 November 2007. Results: Compared to the non‐Austrian cohort (n = 15153), the Austrian cohort (n = 896) was slightly older [median, interquartile range (IQR): 70, 60–77 years vs. 69, 60–76 years, P = 0.05] and included more women (44.6% vs. 41.0%, P = 0.03). Austrian patients had a significantly shorter stroke onset‐to‐treatment time (OTT; median, IQR: 135, 105–160 min vs. 145, 115–170 min, P < 0.0005). Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhages were observed in 1.6% of Austrian and 1.7% of non‐Austrian patients (P = 0.82). At 3 months, 50.8% of Austrian and 53.0% of non‐Austrian patients were independent (P = 0.23), but death was less frequent in Austrian patients (12.1% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.03). Multivariate analyses adjusted for demographic and baseline characteristics confirmed lower mortality at 3 months in the Austrian cohort (odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence intervals 0.71–0.92, P = 0.001). Longer OTT was associated with increased mortality at 3 months, with a hazard ratio of 1.02 (95% CI 1.01–1.03; P = 0.005) for each 10‐min increase in OTT. Conclusions: The implementation of intravenous alteplase for acute stroke has been safe and efficacious in Austrian centres. OTT and mortality were significantly lower in Austrian patients compared to non‐Austrian SITS centres.