able 1.

Preferred standard instruments for patient assessment in stroke]

 Type Name and Approximate Strengths Weaknesses
Source Time to
Administer

Level-of- Glasgow Coma 2 minutes Simple, valid, None observed.

consciousness scale Scale [a] reliable.

Stroke deficit NIH Stroke Scale 2 minutes Brief, reliable, Low sensitivity.
scales [b] can be
administered by
non-neurologists.

Canadian 5 minutes Brief, valid, Some useful

Neurological reliable. measures
Scale [c] omitted.

Global disability Rankin Scale 5 minutes Good for overall Walking is the
scale [d,e] assessment of only explicit
disability. assessment
criterion. Low
sensitivity.

Measures of Barthel Index 5-10 minutes Widely used for Low sensitivity
disability/activities [f] stroke. Excellent for high-level
of daily living (ADL) validity and functioning.
reliability.

Functional 40 minutes Widely used for "Ceiling" and

Independence stroke. Measures "floor" effects.
Measure (FIM) mobility, ADL,
[g] cognition,
functional
communication.

Mental status Folstein Mini- 10 minutes Widely used for Several

screening Mental State screening. functions with
Examination [h] summed score.
May misclassify
patients with
aphasia.

Neurobehavioral 10 minutes Predicts gain in Does not

Cognition Status Barthel Index distinguish right
Exam (NCSE) [i] scores. from left
Unrelated to age. hemisphere. No
reliability
studies in
stroke. No
studies of
factorial
structure.
Correlates with
education.

Assessment of Fugl-Meyer [j] 30-40 minutes Extensively Considered too

motor function evaluated complex and
measure. Good time-consuming
validity and by many.
reliability for
assessing
sensorimotor
function and
balance.

Motor 15 minutes Good, brief Reliability

Assessment assessment of assessed only in
Scale [k] movement and stable patients.
physical mobility. Sensitivity not
tested.

Motricity Index 5 minutes Brief assessment Sensitivity not

[l] of motor function tested.
of arm, leg, and
trunk.

Balance Berg Balance 10 minutes Simple, well None observed.

assessment Assessment [m] established with
http://www.strokecenter.org/trials/scales/scales-overview.htm#a