3-4 May — The Upper Limb Performance Assessment
Chameleon Courses
Auckland, New Zealand

COURSE FULL

DESCRIPTION: The Upper Limb Performance Assessment is an ecologically valid, criterion-referenced, two-stage assessment of upper limb contributions to task performance (Ranka, & Chapparo, 2011). It can be used with any client who demonstrates difficulties with any aspect of reach, grasp and release regardless of cause. Stage One, Task Performance Mastery (TPM), is used to analyze and assess the degree to which a person can perform the motor steps of any needed or desired task in context. Errors are identified using a specific classification system. Steps performed without error are used to calculate a performance mastery percentage score. Stage Two, the Comparative Analysis of Performance –Motor (CAP-M), is used to identify specific elements of movement disorders that contribute to errors identified in Stage One. Stage Two is based on a comparative method of observation. The ability of the ULPA to measure subtle, incremental changes in performance of client specific tasks has been demonstrated (Crippin, Ranka, Nott, Barden & Baguley, 2012). The symptoms identified through the CAP-M are used to select and apply impairment-focused interventions, and to embed these interventions within task oriented therapy programs that aims to improve mastery. Reliability and validity of the ULPA has been demonstrated (Barden, Nott, Baguley & Chapparo, in press; Crippen, Ranka, Nott & Baguley, 2012; Rae, Copley & Ranka, 2010).

OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe elements of the ULPA and understand its psychometric properties.
2. Compare and contrast the ULPA with other assessments of the upper limb function (eg. MAS, ARAT, GAS).
3. Assess and score task performance mastery from videotaped client examples using Stage One.
4. Assess and score motor strategy application behaviours applied to tasks on dimensions of reach, grasp and release from videotaped client examples Stage Two.
5. Use findings from the ULPA to write specific, measureable mastery and strategy application goals, discuss implications for intervention, and calculate and graph outcomes.

AUDIENCE: Qualified Occupational Therapists