Introduction: The Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper (FMA-UE) and lower extremity (FMA-LE) is a reliable and valid tool for assessment of motor functions after stroke Purpose: To translate the original FMA-UE and FMA-LE into Slovenian and to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability for the motor part of the FMA and its correlation with muscle strength and activity level tests in patients after stroke. Methods: 40 stroke subjects aged 19 to 79 years, 5 to 89,7 weeks after stroke participated in the study. The translation followed the standard forward-backward translation procedure. Assessment took place six to eight days after admission or before discharge. Inter-rater reliability was assessed with two raters, while intra-rater reliability was assessed with one rater. The correlation of the FMA-UE was calculated with hand grip strength and two upper extremity function tests. The correlation of the FMA-LE was calculated with handheld dynamometry of knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors, as well as balance and mobility tests. Additionally, correlation of the FMA-UE and FMA-LE was calculated with the functional independence measure (FIM). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess reliability. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated. Results: Excellent intra-rater (ICC = 0.99–1) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.96–0.99) were found for the total motor part of the FMA-UE and FMA-LE. The FMA-UE and FMA-LE had a strong to very strong positive correlation with muscle strength (rs = 0.73–0.91), FMA-UE had a strong positive correlation with the nine-hole peg test (9HPT) (rs = 0.63), and very strong positive correlation with the functional component of the Wolf motor function test (WMFT) (rs = 0.91). In the sample of all subjects, the correlation of the FMA-UE with the time component of the WMFT was not statistically significant, whereas a moderate negative correlation (rs = -0.57) was found in patients with moderate impairment. For both, the sample of all subjects and in stratified samples, we did not find a statistically significant association of FMA-LE with the postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS) and the Berg balance scale (BBS). The FMA-LE had a weak negative correlation with the five times sit to stand test (rs = -0.40) and a strong to very strong positive correlation with the functional gait assessment and the walking tests (rs = 0.72 –0.86). The FMA-UE and FMA-LE were strongly positively correlated with FIM (rs = 0.67–0.73). Conclusion: The Slovenian translation of the motor part of FMA is a reliable and valid tool and is therefore recommended for clinical and research use. Further research is needed to determine the correlation of the FMA-UE with the 9HPT and WMFT and the FMA-LE with the PASS and BBS.
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