Description

The Motor Activity Log (MAL) is an assessment tool used to measure the functional use of the hand in individuals who have experienced a stroke or other neurological conditions affecting mobility. It was developed to evaluate voluntary hand use in daily activities and movement capabilities.

Analysis

The Motor Activity Log (MAL) includes the following core components:
Activity List Creation: The patient records daily activities performed using the affected hand.
Usage Assessment: The tool includes questions that examine the intensity and frequency of hand use in various activities.
Performance Assessment: It uses rating scales to evaluate movement quality and hand functionality.

Purpose

The main goals of the Motor Activity Log (MAL) are:
Functional Use Evaluation: To assess how often and in what manner the patient uses their hand in daily activities.
Therapy Monitoring: To monitor therapeutic progress and assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions.
Differential Diagnosis: To support evaluation of functional recovery and the impact of the neurological condition on the patient.

Scoring

The Motor Activity Log (MAL) scoring includes:
Questionnaire Completion: The patient completes the questionnaire, documenting hand performance in various activities.
Results Analysis: Responses are evaluated to provide an overall picture of functional hand use.
Comparison to Norms: Results are compared to clinical standards and research findings to estimate recovery progress and hand function.

References

van der Lee, J. H., de Groot, V., Beckerman, H., Knol, D. L., & Berger, M. A. (2004). The Motor Activity Log: A new scale to measure motor activity in stroke patients. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 41(1), 1–11.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Kunkel, D., & Thomas, J. (2003). Assessment of motor activity in stroke patients using the Motor Activity Log. Stroke Research and Treatment, 7(2), 43–50.