Reliability of the Fugl-Meyer assessment of sensorimotor recovery following cerebrovascular accident

Abstract

This study establishes intratester reliability for all components of physical performance and intertester reliability for the total scores of upper and lower extremity motor performance in a cumulative numerical scoring system devised by Fugl-Meyer et al. Intertester reliability was found to be high for the total scores of upper and lower extremity motor performance. All intratester and intertester reliability coefficients were high and statistically significant. Establishing the reliability of the Fugl-Meyer method of assessing recovery of function following cerebrovascular accident has increased the usefulness of this method for clinical assessment and as a tool for the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.