Functional Capacity Evaluation Flashcards

Which Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guideline is MOST relevant when establishing safe lifting parameters within an FCE?

Answer: NIOSH revised lifting equation

The NIOSH Revised Lifting Equation provides a scientifically based formula for calculating recommended weight limits that FCE evaluators use as a reference standard.

A client's FCE results show they can lift 35 lbs occasionally but the target job requires medium work (20-50 lbs frequently). The evaluator should conclude the client:

Answer: Does not meet the frequent lifting demand of the target position

Frequent lifting in the DOT medium category requires up to 25 lbs; the distinction between occasional and frequent capacity is critical in job matching.

During grip strength testing in an FCE, the Rapid Exchange Grip (REG) test is used to:

Answer: Detect submaximal effort through inconsistent force production patterns

The REG test alternates rapid grip measurements between hands; individuals exerting maximal effort show consistent force patterns while those exerting submaximal effort often show inconsistencies.

The PRIMARY purpose of including a positional tolerance assessment (sitting, standing, walking) in an FCE is to:

Answer: Quantify time-based capacity for sustained work postures required in most jobs

Positional tolerance data directly maps to the physical demand characteristics of most jobs, providing essential data for vocational placement decisions.

When an FCE evaluator identifies a significant discrepancy between the client's claimed limitations and observed functional performance, the ethical obligation is to:

Answer: Objectively document the observed discrepancies and validity indicators without drawing conclusions about intent

FCE evaluators are objective observers who document findings; determining intent (malingering vs. fear-avoidance) is beyond the evaluator's scope and requires other assessment methods.

Which factor MOST significantly reduces the predictive validity of an FCE for return-to-work outcomes?

Answer: Testing occurring in a clinical setting removed from actual work conditions

Ecological validity is reduced when FCE testing occurs in a clinical environment that does not replicate actual work conditions, tools, and environmental demands.

For a client with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, FCE testing should be modified to account for:

Answer: Post-exertional malaise and increased symptom variability across test sessions

Fibromyalgia is associated with post-exertional malaise, meaning symptom amplification after exertion is a genuine physiological response requiring protocol modification and multi-session evaluation.