Assessing Wolf Motor function Test as outcome measure for research in patients after stroke

Background and Purpose - The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a new time-based method to evaluate upper extremity performance while providing insight into joint-specific and total limb movements, This study addresses selected psychometric attributes of the WMFT applied to a chronic stroke population. Methods - Nineteen individuals after stroke and with intact cognition and sitting balance were age- and sex-matched with 19 individuals without impairment. Subjects performed the WMFT and the upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA) on 2 occasions (12 to 16 days apart), with scoring performed independently by 2 random raters. Results - The WMFT and FMA demonstrated agreement (P <0.0001) between raters at each session. WMFT scores for the dominant and nondominant extremities of individuals without impairment were different (P <0.05) from the more and less affected extremities of subjects after stroke. The FMA score for the more affected extremity of subjects after stroke was different (P less than or equal to0.05) from the dominant and nondominant extremities. However, the FMA score for the less affected upper extremity of individuals after stroke was not different (P >0.05) from the dominant and nondominant extremities of individuals without impairment. The WMFT and FMA scores were related (P <0.02) for the more affected extremity in individuals after stroke. Conclusions - The interrater reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity of the WMFT, as used in these subject samples, are supported.