Abstract
OBJECTIVE. We determined (1) whether active range of motion (AROM) of shoulder flexion and wrist extension measured at the initial therapy evaluation in the acute hospital predicted upper-extremity (UE) motor function 3 mo after stroke and (2) whether the presence of nonmotor impairments influenced this prediction. METHOD. We collected AROM data from 50 people with stroke during their initial acute hospital therapy evaluation and UE motor function data 3 mo later. Multiple regression techniques determined the predictive ability of initial AROM on later UE motor function. RESULTS. Initial AROM explained 28% of the variance in UE motor function 3 mo poststroke. Nonmotor deficits did not contribute to the variance. CONCLUSION. Compared with later AROM measurements, initial values did not adequately predict UE motor function 3 mo after stroke. Clinicians should use caution when informing clients of UE functional prognosis in the early days after stroke.