Functional gains during acute hospitalization for stroke.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Confirm clinimetric suitability of 5 Functional Independence Measure (FIM) items for characterizing functional independence. 2) Describe functional changes and relationships between selected variables and functional independence at discharge and functional change. METHODS: For 451 patients hospitalized for acute stroke, scores were recorded at admission and discharge for 5 FIM items (transfers, eating, walking, expression, and memory). The sum of the 5 FIM items and functional change between admission and discharge were calculated. RESULTS: The FIM scores were internally consistent (alpha = .894 and .918) and reflected 1 factor. Functional independence increased (t = 17.46, P < .001) over a mean 5.5 days. Regression analysis showed the same variables (admission function, NIHSS score, length of stay, age, and total therapy units) to best predict discharge function (R2 = .804) and function change (R2 = .184). CONCLUSIONS: Together, 5 easily observed FIM items demonstrated that functional independence increased during hospitalization. Discharge function and functional change were predicted significantly (but weakly) by therapy units.