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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Computerized Adaptive Testing System of Functional Assessment of Stroke
Published on: January 7, 2019
Development and validation of a short form of the Fugl-Meyer motor scale in patients with stroke
Background And Purpose:
The 50-item Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FM) is commonly used in outcome studies. However, the lengthy administration time of the FM keeps it from being widely accepted for routine clinical use. We aimed to develop a short form of the FM (the S-FM) with sound psychometric properties for stroke patients.
Methods:
The FM was administered to 279 patients. It was then simplified based on expert opinions and the results of Rasch analysis. The psychometric properties (including Rasch reliability, concurrent validity, predictive validity, and responsiveness) of the S-FM were examined and were compared with those of the FM. The concurrent validity and responsiveness of the S-FM were further validated in a sample from the Netherlands.
Results:
We selected 6 items for each subscale to construct a 12-item S-FM. The S-FM demonstrated high Rasch reliability, high concurrent validity with the original scale, moderate responsiveness, and moderate predictive validity with the comprehensive activities of daily living function. The S-FM also showed sufficient concurrent validity and responsiveness on the Dutch sample.
Conclusions:
Our results provide strong evidence that the psychometric properties of the S-FM are comparable with those of the FM. The S-FM contains only 12 items, making it a very efficient measure for assessing the motor function of stroke patients in both clinical and research settings.
Insights
A new 12-item Fugl-Meyer motor scale (S-FM) offers a shorter, efficient alternative for assessing stroke patient motor function. Its psychometric properties are comparable to the original 50-item scale, making it suitable for clinical and research use.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The 50-item Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FM) is a standard outcome measure in stroke research but is too lengthy for routine clinical use.
- This study aimed to develop and validate a short form of the FM (S-FM) with comparable psychometric properties for efficient stroke motor function assessment.
Discussion:
- The S-FM was developed using expert opinion and Rasch analysis, reducing the FM from 50 to 12 items.
- Psychometric properties, including Rasch reliability, concurrent validity, predictive validity, and responsiveness, were rigorously evaluated and compared to the full FM scale.
- Validation in a Dutch sample confirmed the S-FM's utility across different populations.
Key Insights:
- The 12-item S-FM demonstrates high Rasch reliability and strong concurrent validity with the original FM scale.
- It exhibits moderate responsiveness and predictive validity for activities of daily living, indicating its clinical relevance.
- The S-FM is a psychometrically sound and efficient tool for assessing motor function in stroke patients.
Outlook:
- The S-FM's brevity and validated psychometric properties support its adoption in clinical practice and research settings.
- Further research could explore its utility in diverse neurological conditions beyond stroke.
- Longitudinal studies may further elucidate the S-FM's responsiveness to therapeutic interventions.
