Which clinical and sociodemographic determinants are associated with self-perceived manual ability at one year after stroke?

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of multiple potential sociodemographic and clinical stroke-related determinants on self-perceived manual ability in an unselected sample of individuals 12 months after first-ever stroke.Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 68 participants (mean age 66) with UE impairments were followed up at 12 months post stroke. Stroke severity at onset was moderate for the majority. Manual ability was assessed by the patient-reported outcome measure ABILHAND Questionnaire. Determinants included in the multivariate regression analysis were age, gender, living situation, vocational situation, affected hand, stroke severity at onset and UE disability (motor function, sensory function, joint motion, pain, grip strength, spasticity and activity capacity) at 12 months post stroke.Results: The strongest associated determinants with self-perceived manual ability were UE motor function and UE activity capacity at 12 months post-stroke. UE motor function together with age and grip strength explained 65% of the variance in one final multivariate model. UE activity capacity and grip strength explained 62% of the variance in a second final model.Conclusion: In order to understand self-perceived difficulties in manual ability in daily activities in persons with stroke, assessments of UE motor function and activity capacity are recommended.Implications for rehabilitationThe ultimate goal of the upper extremity rehabilitation after stroke is to regain ability to use the UE in daily activities that are important to the individual in his or her own environment.This requires a good understanding of factors that are associated with self-perceived manual ability in order to tailor effective rehabilitation interventions.Upper extremity motor function and activity capacity are the strongest determinants associated with self-perceived manual ability one year after stroke.These factors are recommended to be included in the assessment battery in stroke to fully understand the disability in daily life.