Standardized assessment
FMA-UE Score Guide: Fugl-Meyer Upper-Extremity Scoring
The upper-extremity motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment contains 33 items. Each item is commonly scored 0, 1, or 2, producing a motor total from 0 to 66.
This guide is intended for stroke survivors, caregivers, students, clinicians, and researchers who need a clear orientation to Fugl-Meyer upper-extremity scoring.
What the 66-point upper-extremity score represents
The FMA-UE evaluates motor performance across reflex-related items, movement within and outside synergy patterns, wrist and hand tasks, and coordination or speed items. The total summarizes performance across the complete motor section.
A total score is useful for tracking overall change, but it does not show which specific items improved. Reviewing item-level or subsection performance can provide a more informative rehabilitation profile.
Why standardized administration matters
Fugl-Meyer assessment scoring depends on the defined test instructions and scoring criteria. Changing the task, assistance, starting position, or interpretation can reduce comparability across sessions.
When the assessment is used clinically or for research, trained administration is important. A home-facing digital tool can support organization and longitudinal review, but it should not be presented as a substitute for qualified clinical judgment.
How to interpret change over time
A higher score generally reflects better performance on the assessed motor items, but the clinical meaning of a score change depends on timing, baseline severity, measurement conditions, and the person's goals.
Compare scores obtained under similar conditions and review item-level changes. An improvement concentrated in shoulder and elbow items may have different functional implications from a similar total change concentrated in wrist and hand items.
Practical next steps
- 1Record the assessment date and days after stroke.
- 2Use the same version, instructions, and scoring rules at each session.
- 3Preserve item-level scores rather than storing only the total.
- 4Review subsection patterns together with functional task performance.
- 5Document reasons when a test item cannot be completed as intended.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum FMA-UE motor score?
The 33 upper-extremity motor items produce a maximum total of 66 when each item receives a score of 2.
Is the FMA-UE total enough to plan rehabilitation?
The total is useful, but item-level findings, functional goals, sensation, pain, cognition, and other clinical information are also important for planning.
Can FMA-UE scores be compared across dates?
They can be reviewed longitudinally when the assessment is administered and scored consistently and when important changes in testing conditions are documented.