Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To examine the responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure–36 (MAM–36) compared with a clinician-administered functional assessment.
METHOD. The MAM–36 was administered to 46 patients (Cohort A, n = 20; Cohort B, n = 26) with various upper-extremity conditions. All patients received occupational therapy intervention for 2–37 wk and were retested at discharge. Additionally, the Smith Hand Function Test (SHFT), including task performance speeds and grip strength measurements, was administered to Cohort B at intake and discharge.
RESULTS. Manual ability improved significantly at discharge in all patients. Patients also showed significant improvement on the SHFT. The correlation between gain in MAM–36 and gain in grip strength was moderate. The standardized response mean for the MAM–36 was 1.18.
CONCLUSION. The MAM–36 was responsive to changes in hand function in patients receiving occupational therapy services. MAM–36 results correlated positively with improvements in task performance speeds and grip strength.
