Fugl-Meyer Assessment – Lower Extremity (FMA-LE)

A 17-item scale measuring lower extremity motor recovery after stroke.

Clinician-administered; approximately 15 to 20 minutes for the lower extremity section.
17 items covering hip, knee, ankle, and foot, plus coordination.
Each item scored 0, 1, or 2. Total 0 to 34.

What it measures

The FMA-LE tests motor recovery in the hip, knee, ankle, and foot following the same Brunnstrom synergy framework as the upper extremity section. Items progress from reflex activity through synergy movements to isolated joint control and coordination. It is typically administered alongside the FMA-UE as part of a full Fugl-Meyer assessment.

What the result tells you

Total scores (0 to 34) reflect lower extremity motor impairment. Higher scores indicate better function. The scale tracks recovery in gait and balance rehabilitation research. It is typically combined with the FMA-UE, and sometimes with sensory and balance subscales, for a full Fugl-Meyer assessment.

Used for

Stroke

Evidence, psychometrics and provenance

Psychometrics

Inter-rater reliabilityICC ≈ 0.96

Test-retest reliabilityICC ≈ 0.96

Reliability on a 0 to 1 scale. Higher indicates greater agreement.

References

1.Fugl-Meyer AR, Jääskö L, Leyman I, Olsson S, Steglind S. The post-stroke hemiplegic patient. 1. A method for evaluation of physical performance. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1975;7(1):13-31.

This assessment uses a validated instrument and is reference information, not a diagnosis.