Motor Activity Log (MAL): Assessing Upper Limb Function
This interview assesses how stroke survivors use their affected arm in daily life. It helps clinicians track real-world improvements in movement quality and frequency.
Motor Activity Log (MAL)
Used widely in rehabilitation, the Motor Activity Log (MAL) is a structured interview assessing arm function after a stroke. It tracks both the amount of use and quality of movement in daily tasks. This helps clinicians monitor real-world recovery beyond standard clinic exercises.
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Disease
Source
What is Motor Activity Log (MAL)
The Motor Activity Log (MAL) is a trusted tool for tracking arm use after a stroke. It measures real-world performance rather than just clinic ability. This structured interview looks at common daily tasks like brushing teeth or using a fork. It focuses on the weaker arm and hand during routine activities at home. Patients rate themselves on two separate scales ranging from zero to five. The Amount of Use scale tracks how often the limb helps out, while the Quality of Movement scale checks how well it moves. This dual approach gives a clear picture of actual recovery progress. Clinicians often use it alongside treatments like constraint-induced movement therapy. It is quick to administer and helps therapists set practical goals. By highlighting the gap between what a patient can do and what they actually do, it supports better long-term outcomes in neurorehabilitation.
The Motor Activity Log can be scored using two main approaches focusing on distinct aspects of arm function: 1. Amount of Use (AOU) Scale: You'll rate how much the weaker arm is used for specific tasks on a 0 to 5 scale, where 0 means not used and 5 is normal use. 2. Quality of Movement (QOM) Scale: This looks at how well the arm moves. Again, it uses a 0 to 5 rating, ranging from inability to move to normal movement. To get the final score, add up the ratings for each scale and divide by the number of items answered. This gives a mean score that helps track real world recovery progress.
Advantages
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Measures treatment effectiveness through standardised tools.
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Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.
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Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.
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Promotes active participation in healthcare assessment.
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