Assessing arm and hand function after stroke: a validity test of the hierarchical scoring system used in the motor assessment scale for stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the scoring hierarchy for the 3 upper-limb items on the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS).

Design: Application of Rasch analysis to 3 independent measurement scales, each representing the upper-arm function, hand movements, and advanced hand activities items of the MAS.

Setting: Inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy (OT) programs in a department of rehabilitation of an urban hospital center.