Arm and leg impairments and disabilities after stroke rehabilitation: relation to handicap

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the relationships between measures of impairment and disability for the arm and leg with a measure of handicap and (2) to identify the impairment or disability most strongly related to handicap situations. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Intensive functional rehabilitation unit and community. PATIENTS: One hundred and two persons who had a stroke. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Arm and leg impairments and disabilities were evaluated with reliable and valid tests at discharge from rehabilitation. Six months later, handicap situations were evaluated with the Assessments of Life Habits (LIFE-H). RESULTS: Arm and leg impairments and disabilities are correlated with handicap situations. Disability of the leg is more strongly associated with handicap than arm disability. Arm and leg disabilities are not statistically more strongly related to handicap than arm and leg impairments. CONCLUSIONS: The high correlations found between handicap situations and the impairment and disability measures of the leg provide new information that support the importance of mobility to promote integration after stroke.