Functional assessment of the upper limb in patients in a rehabilitation polyclinic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35954/SM2025.44.2.2.e301Keywords:
quality of live, evaluation of research programs and tools, indicators of quality of life, physical and rehabilitation medicine, upper extremity, rehabilitation, rehabilitation servicesAbstract
Introduction: The heterogeneity of the population attended at the Upper Limb and Burn Polyclinic of the Academic Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Hospital de Clínicas represents a challenge from the assistance and technical point of view; at present, there is no standardized and objectifiable line of initial assessment. This research is relevant for the care team and patients because it means a support to adapt and improve assessment methods, in order to implement objective measurements at the beginning. It will also allow promoting future lines of research taking into account the population profile.
Objective: To functionally characterize patients consulting for the first time in an upper limb rehabilitation polyclinic, using the ARAT and Quick DASH scales.
Materials and methods: Descriptive observational study, with data collection from patients seen between December 2024 and April 2025. Consenting patients over 18 years of age with upper limb injuries were included, to whom both scales were applied in their first consultation. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed according to sex and laterality.
Results: 18 patients were included. ARAT scores ranged between 0 and 57 and QuickDASH between 0% and 86.4%, with high dispersion. Dissociation was observed between both scales, with cases of good objective functionality and high self-perceived disability. No significant differences were found by laterality. Women reported greater disability in the QuickDASH (p = 0.0328), with no objective functional difference.
Discussion: The most relevant finding is the dissociation between both scales: patients with preserved objective functionality (high ARAT) were identified who reported high levels of disability in the Quick DASH.
Conclusion: The ARAT and Quick DASH scales allowed us to characterize patients' functionality in a complementary manner. The combination of objective and subjective measures is useful in the initial assessment and can enrich individual therapeutic planning.
NOTE: This article was approved by the Editorial Committee.
Received for review: May 2025.
Accepted for publication: June 2025.
Correspondence: Enrique Muñoz 870, Ap. 401. CP 11300. Tel.: (+598) 099861312. Montevideo, Uruguay.
Contact email: diegoaiscar@gmail.com
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