Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A survey of UK emergency medical services' approach to incidental identification of atrial fibrillation.

British paramedic journal·2026
Same author

Mixed (reusable/single-use) catheter management versus single-use catheter management for intermittent catheter users (MultICath): A non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

International journal of nursing studies·2026
Same author

An economic evaluation of the MultICath randomised controlled trial, comparing combined use of reusable and single-use intermittent catheters to single-use catheters only.

Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E·2026
Same author

Diagnostic Accuracy of Lateral Flow Blood Tests to Detect Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke.

Stroke (Hoboken, N.J.)·2026
Same author

Applying a hypothetical strategy to the intercurrent event of non-adherence with the parametric g-formula: a post hoc secondary analysis of the MET-PREVENT randomised controlled trial.

Trials·2026
Same author

Photoperiod effects on the expression of deep brain photoreceptors and gonadotrophin genes are sex- and age-dependent in Pekin ducks.

General and comparative endocrinology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat
04:59

Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat

Published on: November 9, 2018

6.8K

Analysing the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT): a cautionary tale from the RATULS trial.

Nina Wilson1, Denise Howel1, Helen Bosomworth2

  • 1Biostatistics Research Group.

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. Internationale Zeitschrift Fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue Internationale De Recherches De Readaptation
|March 20, 2021
PubMed
Summary

When analyzing upper limb function with the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) after stroke, researchers must check data distribution. U-shaped distributions require specific statistical approaches to avoid misleading conclusions in stroke rehabilitation studies.

More Related Videos

Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test
07:54

Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test

Published on: June 29, 2018

13.9K
A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats
06:17

A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats

Published on: October 17, 2019

5.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat
04:59

Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat

Published on: November 9, 2018

6.8K
Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test
07:54

Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test

Published on: June 29, 2018

13.9K
A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats
06:17

A Task for Assessing the Impact of a Partner on the Speed and Accuracy of Motor Performance in Rats

Published on: October 17, 2019

5.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) is a common outcome measure for upper limb function in stroke rehabilitation.
  • Accurate statistical analysis is crucial for interpreting results from clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and address an issue with analyzing ARAT subscales in a post-stroke upper limb therapy trial.
  • To highlight the importance of checking data distribution shapes for appropriate statistical methods.

Main Methods:

  • The study analyzed ARAT subscale data from a trial of upper limb therapies post-stroke.
  • A 'U-shaped' distribution was observed in the ARAT subscales at three months.
  • Dichotomization was employed as a simple alternative analysis approach for the subscales.

Main Results:

  • The 'U-shaped' distribution of ARAT subscales rendered mean or median comparisons inappropriate.
  • Checking distribution shapes is essential for selecting suitable descriptive and inferential statistical techniques for ARAT data.
  • Heavily skewed distributions, including those with floor or ceiling effects, also necessitate careful consideration of analytical methods.

Conclusions:

  • Inappropriate statistical analyses of ARAT data, particularly with non-normal distributions like 'U-shaped' or skewed data, can lead to erroneous conclusions in stroke rehabilitation research.
  • Researchers must verify ARAT data distributions to ensure the validity of their findings and choose appropriate statistical methods, such as dichotomization or more advanced techniques.