Testing daily functions post-stroke with standardized practical equipment

Abstract

Two hundred and seven stroke patients were tested with Standardized Practical Equipment (SPE) three months after a stroke. One year after the stroke 183 survivors from this stroke population were tested with the equipment. The SPE test consists of 12 common daily activities, which the patient was asked to perform. The construct validity of SPE was estimated by factor analysis from the results of one-year follow-up. Three factors explained 82% of the variance of the 12 variables of SPE. Factor 1 mainly concerned cognitive factors and co-ordination, Factor 2 construction and hand function and Factor 3 variables that were dependent on mobility and balance. No significant difference was noted between the performance with SPE three months and one year after the stroke among the one-year survivors. There were some differences between men and women; for example the men were more successful in tasks with technical components. The women had more difficulty with some of the tasks involving mobility, such as climbing stairs without support. The Standardized Practical Equipment gave good additive information about the ability of a stroke patient to manage at home and could be used in any set-up.