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For a defensible, high quality evaluation, look for an evaluator with additional training and experience in evaluating
functional capacity. Our work has been reviewed by several international experts in the field of functional capacity
and staff hold a certification as a Certified Work Capacity Evaluator. Look for the CWCE for quality evaluations.
A Functional (Physical) Capacity Evaluation is an intensive, short-term
evaluation that focuses on major physical tolerances such as sitting, standing, squatting, lifting, carrying, reaching, etc.
It uses a systemized approach with standardized testing to help answer various work-related questions about an individual's
physical abilities.
If you need to know if an employee can do a certain job, how much they
can lift/carry, reach, or perform other work-related tasks then this evaluation can give you that information.
It can also help determine if they are a candidate for further rehabilitation,
if they would benefit from a work hardening program, or if they require ergonomic equipment or a modification to the position
to be able to safely complete the job requirements.
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Each evaluation must address the following components:
- Safety - The test must not cause another injury or put the client
in harm's way
- Reliability - Test results must be consistent across evaluators,
evaluees, and time of test administration
- Validity - The test must meausre what it intends to measure
- Practicality - Test procedures must require reasonable direct and
indirect costs
- Utility - Must meet the needs of the referrer, payer, and evaluee
There are multiple components to an evaluation:
- Intake Interview - this involves interview with the client about
the history of the injury & work history, current pain levels and intakes, and ADL status
- Musculoskeletal Evaluation - measurement of ROM, manual strength
testing, special testing, flexibility, edema, etc.
- Positional Tolerances - this looks at abilities and tolerance to
various positions such as sitting, standing, walking, low level/above shoulder work, etc.
- Strength and Endurance - this involves a material handling assessment,
MET testing, and work simulation
The evaluation also addresses two other componenets that are evaluated
throughout the evaluation:
- Reliability of Pain and Disability Reports (RPDR) - this is a battery
of tests that is designed to assess the dependability and accuracy of the client's subjective reports of pain and disability.
Are they reliable or not?
- Physical Effort (Validity) - multiple methods are used in assessing
validity of the evaluation. These include: Isometrically, Behaviorly, Consistency, & Cardiovascularly. Full
physical effort suggests that the results of the test indicate the client's true, SAFE maximum abilities.
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Physical Capacity Evaluations, Work Conditioning, Work
Hardening, Ergonomics, Lift/Carry Evaluations, Post-Offer Screening/Work Tolerance Screening, Employee Training, Rehabilitation
Some material contained on these webpages was obtained from Roy Matheson and Associates courses and manuals. We
thank them for their excellence in training and education. They can be contacted at RoyMatheson.com
We would also like to extend a special thanks to the folks at CW Enterprises for their assistance with site content and
their trust with our services.
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