Table 1 Outcomes included in this study, collected in RCT NCT00719433 [2]

FMA

Body structure & function

Upper extremity motor function of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment [35]

WMFTf

Activity

Wolf Motor Function Test function-domain. A qualitative measure of motor performance of the affected arm in the clinical environment [27]

WMFTt

Activity

Wolf Motor Function Test time-domain. A quantitative measure of performance of the affected arm in the clinical environment [27]

Mean strength

Body structure & function

Voluntary joint torque capability as measured by ARMin. A patient’s arm is brought to predefined positions and the patient applies maximal, voluntary, and isometric torques in directions of shoulder abduction, adduction, anteversion, and retroversion, and of elbow flexion and extension. Peak torques are added to calculate the mean strength in Newton-meters. Patients in the conventional therapy group experienced ARMin only during this assessment of mean strength, but this exposure did not involve any training [2].

Grip strength

Body structure & function

As measured by a handheld dynamometer (Jamar, Sammons Preston Rolyan, Bolingbrook, IL, USA).

MAL

Activity

Motor Activity Log. A structured interview with the patient about quality of movement of the affected arm in the natural, home, and community environment [36]

SIS

Participation

Stroke Impact Scale (version 2.0). A self-reported measure of health status. We used the physical dimensions score from the four domains of strength, hand function, mobility, and activities of daily living [37].