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 5 20; Cohort B, n 5 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.