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Table 1 Upright motor control test components, subtest tasks, and scoring criteria

From: Measurement properties of the upright motor control test for adults with stroke: a systematic review

Test component

3 = Strong

2 = Moderate

1 = Weak

Extension Control Test

Hip Extension

Patient’s task: Stand on the weaker leg only and keep the body as straight as possible.

Maintains trunk erect on hip in single-leg stance

Unable to maintain trunk erect, but able to stop forward trunk momentum OR trunk wobbles back and forth OR trunk hyperextends on hip

Unable to control trunk flexion on hip in single-leg stance

Knee Extension

Patient task: Stand on both legs with the knees bent, lift the stronger leg while the knee of the weaker leg remains bent, then straighten the knee of the weightbearing leg.

Supports body weight on flexed knee and straightens knee to end of range on command

Supports body weight on flexed knee (no further collapse into flexion)

Unable to maintain body weight on flexed knee (knee collapses in flexion)

Ankle Extension (Plantarflexion)

Patient task: Stand on both legs with the knees straight, lift the stronger leg while the tibia of the weaker leg remains vertical, then raise the heel of the weaker leg as high as possible.

Maintains knee at neutral and lifts heel off floor on command

Can control knee at 0° and ankle at 90° with tibia vertical

Knee flexed, ankle dorsiflexed so that tibia displaces forward in single-leg stance

Flexion Control Test

Hip Flexion

Patient task: Bring the knee up toward the chest, as high and as fast as possible, while standing straight.

Actively flexes >60°, 3 rep within 10 s

Acively flexes 30-60°, 3 rep within 10 s

No motion OR actively flexes <30°, 3 rep taking >10 s

Knee Flexion

Patient task: Bring the knee up toward the chest three times, as high and as fast possible, while standing straight.

Actively flexes >60°, 3 rep within 10 s

Actively flexes 30–60°, 3 rep within 10 s

No motion OR actively flexes <30°, 3 rep taking >10 s

Ankle Flexion (Dorsiflexion)

Patient task: Bring the knee and foot up toward the chest as high and as fast as possible, while standing straight.

Actively dorsiflexes ≥90°, 3 rep within 10 s

Not used

No motion OR actively dorsiflexes <90°, 3 rep taking >10 s

  1. Adapted from Hislop & Montgomery [20]