ADL Assessment for Hemiparetic Stroke Patients Based on the Functional Independence Measure.

We have examined to the changes of the FIM score with the Brunnstrom stage and evaluated the ADL structures in rehabilitation for hemiparetic stroke patients. The total FIM score, on admission, was significantly higher as the grade on the Brunnstrom stage, in upper and lower extremities of hemiparetic stroke patients, increased. After 10 weeks rehabilitation, the change in the total FIM score of patients starting rehabilitation within 19 weeks of the occurrence of stroke was increased significantly compared with those of patients who had experienced stroke more than 20 weeks earlier. The change in the total FIM score, after rehabilitation, of patients with stroke in the left hemisphere was increased significantly compared with those of patients with stroke in the right hemisphere. We concluded that FIM is effective in rehabilitation assessment as a means of categorizing a patient’s condition, and as data for program evaluation.