Comparison of technology assisted performance evaluation method and clinical evaluation methods for upper extremity in chronic stroke patients

The aim of this study was to compare technology assisted performance evaluation method and clinical evaluation methods for upper extremity in chronic stroke patients. The study included 22 stroke patients and 35 healthy subjects aged between 18-65 years. Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FM-UE), ABILHAND, ACTIVLIM, Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Smart Physiotherapy Game System were used to evaluate stroke patients. In healthy subjects, only Smart Physiotherapy Game System were used. The mean age of the patients who participated in the study was 56±8.19 years and the healthy cases were 55.77±6.41 years. As a result of study, a statistically significant correlation was found between the total score of the Local Limitation Map (LLM) and the FM-UE (r=0.69), ARAT (r=0.52), WMFT duration (r=-0.67) and score (r=0.58) (p<0.05). Also, a statistically significant correlation was found between the total score of the Global Limitation Map (GLM) and ABILHAND (r=0.60), ACTIVLIM (r=0.45), FM-UE (r=0.66), ARAT (r=0.48), WMFT duration (r=-0.52) and score (r=0.55) (p<0.05). These results showed that the GLM total score indicated the degree of deviation of upper extremity functions and that both LLM and GLM methods could be used to evaluate upper extremity functions in stroke patients. It is thought that further introduction of technology-assisted evaluation methods into the field will contribute to the standardization of the evaluated function by providing objective data.