Reliability and Validity of Two Tests of Upper Extremity Motor Function Post-Stroke

Abstract

The Emory Motor Function Test (Wolf, Lecraw, Barton, & Jann, 1989) and the TEMPA (Test Évaluant les Membres superiors des Personnes Âgées) (Desrosiers, Hébert, & Dutil, 1991) are assessments of upper extremity (UE) motor skill. The TEMPA evaluates both speed and quality of movement. The Emory evaluates speed of movement; we modified the Emory by performing quality of movement ratings. The current study tests the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of these instruments in measuring the UE motor skills of individuals post-stroke. Scores on the Emory had inter-rater and test-retest interclass correlation coefficients of greater than .99. The speed of execution and the functional rating scores on the TEMPA also exhibited high inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities, interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > .83. While the task analysis ratings for the unilateral TEMPA tasks and the combined ratings were reliable (ICCs > .83), the task analysis ratings for the bilateral TEMPA tasks were less reliable (ICCs ranged from .69 to <.1). Individuals with stroke performed more poorly on both the Emory and the TEMPA than those without stroke. We discuss additional strengths and weaknesses of using each instrument to assess motor skill deficits post-stroke.