Predicting self-perceived manual ability at three and six months after stroke: A prospective longitudinal study

Background: Recovery of manual ability is a critical issue in rehabilitation. Currently, little is known regarding the baseline predictors of self-perceived manual ability, which could capture information on individual's perceived functional ability, especially in carrying-out routine tasks outside clinical settings.Objective: To identify baseline predictors, which can be easily obtained within clinical settings, of self-perceived manual ability at three and six months after discharge from a stroke unit.Methods: A 6-month longitudinal study was carried-out. Participants were recruited from a stroke unit of a public hospital. The dependent outcome was self-perceived manual ability, and the following predictors were investigated: age, stroke severity, upper-limb motor impairments, cognitive function, muscle strength, and functional capacity. Linear regression analyses were employed to identify multivariate predictors of manual ability at three and six months after discharge (alpha=5%).Results: Participated 131 individuals, 69 women (mean age of 60 years). Regression analyses revealed that stroke severity and age accounted for 31% and 47% of the variance in manual ability at three and six months after stroke, respectively. Stroke severity was the best predictor of manual ability at three (R-2=29%; F=44.7; p<0.0001) and six months (R-2=45%; F=88.2; p<0.0001) after stroke, respectively.Conclusion: Stroke severity showed to be the best predictor of manual ability at both three and six months after stroke. Although significant, age added little to the explained variance.