Measuring recovery of arm-hand function in stroke patients: A comparison of the Brunnstrom-Fugl-Meyer test and the Action Research Arm test

The purpose of this study was to compare two validated and reliable assessment scales — the Action Research Arm test and the Brunnstrom-Fugl-Meyer test — both of which provide numerical scores on an ordinal scale for motor and functional assessment of the arm in stroke patients. The change in scores on both assessment scales was quantified, as was the time needed to administer the tests. Fifty-three stroke patients admitted consecutively to hospital were examined on the two tests at two and eight weeks after the onset of stroke. The rank correlation coefficient between scores on the test indicates a significant relationship both at two (rs = 0.91) and eight (rs = 0.94) weeks (p < 0.001). The mean improvement on both tests appeared to measure arm-hand funtion equally well. Nevertheless, because the Action Research Arm test is a hierarchical scale and therefore requires less time to administer than the Brunnstrom-Fugl-Meyer test, it is recommended for follow-up of arm-hand function recovery after stroke.