A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a battery of tests that measures an individual's capacity to perform simple physical tasks like lifting, pushing, and pulling. An FCE documents a person's ability to perform work from a medical, behavioral, physical, and ergonomic perspective. It measures work readiness and/or provides baseline information for successful rehabilitation.

Functional Capacity Evaluations are also important from a physical disability perspective, because they can help determine a disabled person's range of physical abilities, creating a complete assessment of relevant physical skills. This is useful in determining whether vocational rehabilitation is necessary.

We use a systematic approach with evaluation instruments whose reliability and validity have been determined through peer-reviewed research and that are available in the public domain. This evaluation also gathers data used to determine consistency of effort and employ-ability.

Client situations that are appropriate for this referral vary. The following are the most common:

• • Clients who have met a plateau in progress made by all interventions
• • Clients who may need an MMI rating/determination of disability
• • Professionals who need assistance deciding if clients can return to work
• • Worker’s compensation companies desiring to close or settle a client case
• • Assistance determining a client’s consistency of effort or presence of symptom magnification

At Alliance Physical Therapy, we use only fully-trained and experienced rehabilitation professionals to perform Functional Capacity Evaluations and other physical assessments.