Capabilities of Upper Extremity (CUE) Instrument

 

NOTE: The instrument as distributed to patients is given in the Appendix (pages 1520-1521). This is the concise form.

 

Measures of Left Upper Extremity

 

Reaching and Lifting:

(1) reach forward

(2) reach up

(3) reach down

 

Pulling and Pushing:

(4) pull light object towards self

(5) pull heavy object (10 pounds) towards self

(6) push light object from self

(7) push heavy object (10 pounds) away from self

 

Wrist Actions:

(8) curl wrist upward (extend)

(9) turn hand palm-down (pronate)

 

Hand and Finger Actions:

(10) power grasp (for example, about a hammer)

(11) pinch grasp

(12) key grasp

(13) wide power grasp (for example, opening the lid of a jar)

(14) manipulate a small object

(15) press with index finger (for example, ringing a doorbell)

 

Measures of Right Upper Extremity

 

Reaching and Lifting:

(1) reach forward

(2) reach up

(3) reach down

 

Pulling and Pushing:

(4) pull light object towards self

(5) pull heavy object (10 pounds) towards self

(6) push light object from self

(7) push heavy object (10 pounds) away from self

 

Wrist Actions:

(8) curl wrist upward (extend)

(9) turn hand palm-down (pronate)

 

Hand and Finger Actions:

(10) power grasp (for example, about a hammer)

(11) pinch grasp

(12) key grasp

(13) wide power grasp (for example, opening the lid of a jar)

(14) manipulate a small object

(15) press with index finger (for example, ringing a doorbell)

 

Measures of Both Upper Extremities

 

(1) lift a 5 pound weight over the head

(2) push down to life self off chair (push-up and weight shift)

Capability	Points
not at all limited	7
a little limited	6
some limitation	5
moderately limited	4
very limited	3
extremely limited	2
totally limited; cannot do at all	1

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 32 questions)

 

subscore for left upper extremity =

= SUM(points for 15 left side questions)

 

subscore for right upper extremity =

= SUM(points for 15 left side questions)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum total score: 32

• maximum total score: 224

• The higher the score, the better the upper extremity function.

 

percent of normal function =

= ((total score) – 32) / 192 * 100%

 

Performance:

• The instrument was found to have good homogeneity, reliability and validity.

• Sensitivity to change in function needs to be determined.