Physical Therapy Evaluation Tool (PEAT) 2 Practice Exam

The main idea here is to use an instrument that directly quantifies motor impairment and its recovery after a stroke, rather than something that only looks at balance or overall function. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment is designed for this purpose. It separately scores upper and lower extremity motor function, examining voluntary movement, reflex activity, synergy patterns, and coordination. Its items provide a detailed, standardized measure of motor impairment and are sensitive to changes over time, making it ideal for tracking recovery and response to therapy after a stroke. In contrast, a Romberg Test mainly checks static balance with eyes closed and doesn’t quantify motor impairment. The Berg Balance Scale evaluates functional balance tasks, which relates to balance performance but not the underlying motor impairment level. The Barthel Index measures independence in daily activities, reflecting overall function and endurance but not specifically motor recovery. So for isolating and tracking motor recovery after a stroke, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment is the best fit.