Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
Published on: November 11, 2011
Responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36): changes in hand function using self-reported and
Christine C Chen1, Orit Palmon2, Debbie Amini3
1Christine C. Chen, MA, MS, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Occupational Therapy), College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, Eighth Floor, New York, NY 10032; ccc2114@columbia.edu.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE. To examine the responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) compared with a clinician-administered functional assessment. METHOD. The MAM-36 was administered to 46 patients (Cohort A, n = 20; Cohort B, n = 26) with various upper-extremity conditions. All patients received occupational therapy intervention for 2-37 wk and were retested at discharge. Additionally, the Smith Hand Function Test (SHFT), including task performance speeds and grip strength measurements, was administered to Cohort B at intake and discharge. RESULTS. Manual ability improved significantly at discharge in all patients. Patients also showed significant improvement on the SHFT. The correlation between gain in MAM-36 and gain in grip strength was moderate. The standardized response mean for the MAM-36 was 1.18. CONCLUSION. The MAM-36 was responsive to changes in hand function in patients receiving occupational therapy services. MAM-36 results correlated positively with improvements in task performance speeds and grip strength.
