Indirect causal path from motor function to quality of life through daily use of the affected arm poststroke after task-specific training: a longitudinal mediation analysis.

Enhanced motor function after intervention may lead to an increase in arm use for daily activities and subsequently result in an improvement in QoL. These results highlight the critical role of daily arm use in task-specific training aimed at improving QoL.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTask-specific training may improve motor function, daily arm use, activities of daily living, and quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate arm hemiparesis.To improve quality of life in task-specific training, clinicians may work in sequence from motor function to daily arm use and then to activities of daily living.Emphasizing the use of the affected arm in daily life is critical to improve quality of life in task-specific training.