Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Computerized Adaptive Testing System of Functional Assessment of Stroke
Published on: January 7, 2019
Longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the upper extremity
Michelle L Woodbury1, Craig A Velozo, Lorie G Richards
1Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA. mwoodbur@phhp.ufl.edu
Objective:
To investigate the longitudinal stability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of the upper-extremity item difficulties by using Rasch analysis.
Design:
Secondary analysis of existing data from a cohort longitudinal study of stroke recovery.
Setting:
University research center.
Participants:
A total of 377 people, ages 69.2+/-11.2 years, to whom the assessment was administered at 2 weeks and 6 months poststroke.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Differential item function analysis performed by using the Winsteps software program examined whether the item difficulty hierarchical order of a modified 30-item FMA for the upper extremity (reflex items removed) was invariant across 2 testing occasions.
Results:
Only 2 items (shoulder flexion to 180 degrees, movement with normal speed) showed large differences in test-retest item difficulty calibration. Item instability had no practical consequences on the longitudinal measurement of person ability.
Conclusions:
The 30-item assessment shows a longitudinally stable item difficulty order and is valid for measuring volitional arm motor ability over time.
