Responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36): changes in hand function using self-reported and clinician-rated assessments.

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.