CVE Functional Capacity Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a PRIMARY biomechanical concern an FCE evaluator monitors during floor-to-waist lifting tasks?
- Grip strength asymmetry greater than 10%
- Lumbar flexion with knees extended under load (Correct answer)
- Heart rate increase above resting baseline
- Breath-holding during the Valsalva maneuver
Correct answer: Lumbar flexion with knees extended under load
Lifting with knees extended and lumbar flexion significantly increases compressive and shear forces on lumbar vertebrae, creating injury risk.
Question 2: The Spearman-Rho correlation between isometric and dynamic lift testing in FCE research typically indicates:
- Poor validity between isometric and dynamic performance
- Moderate to high correlation supporting the use of isometric measures as proxies (Correct answer)
- Dynamic testing is always superior and isometric testing is obsolete
- Isometric results predict endurance better than strength
Correct answer: Moderate to high correlation supporting the use of isometric measures as proxies
Research shows moderate to high correlation between isometric and dynamic measures, supporting isometric testing when dynamic testing poses safety risks.
Question 3: A client reports 10/10 pain during all FCE tasks yet demonstrates full range of motion and no protective guarding behaviors. This pattern MOST likely indicates:
- Serious underlying pathology requiring immediate medical referral
- Possible symptom magnification warranting validity documentation (Correct answer)
- A somatoform disorder requiring psychological evaluation
- Normal acute pain response to physical demand
Correct answer: Possible symptom magnification warranting validity documentation
Discordance between reported pain intensity and observed physical behavior is a classic indicator for documenting performance validity concerns.
Question 4: Which FCE component BEST assesses a client's ability to perform sustained sedentary work for vocational planning purposes?
- Progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation
- Prolonged sitting tolerance assessment with postural observation (Correct answer)
- Six-minute walk test
- Hand-tool dexterity evaluation
Correct answer: Prolonged sitting tolerance assessment with postural observation
Sustained sitting tolerance testing with observation of postural changes directly measures capacity for sedentary occupational tasks.
Question 5: Under ADA guidelines, an FCE conducted post-conditional job offer should be:
- Administered only to applicants with disclosed disabilities
- Conducted on all candidates in the same job category (Correct answer)
- Limited to self-report questionnaires to avoid discrimination claims
- Performed only when the employer suspects a disability
Correct answer: Conducted on all candidates in the same job category
Post-offer medical examinations, including FCEs, must be administered uniformly to all candidates entering the same job classification to comply with ADA.
Question 6: The Functional Assessment Screening Tool (FAST) is MOST appropriate for use in which FCE context?
- Detailed return-to-work capacity determination
- Brief screening to identify clients who need a comprehensive FCE (Correct answer)
- Establishing baseline disability ratings for legal proceedings
- Determining specific material handling weight tolerances
Correct answer: Brief screening to identify clients who need a comprehensive FCE
FAST and similar brief screening tools are designed to identify functional limitations requiring further comprehensive FCE evaluation rather than providing definitive capacity data.
Question 7: In FCE documentation, 'validity of effort' refers specifically to:
- Whether the test instruments used are scientifically validated
- The degree to which the client's performance reflects their true physical ability (Correct answer)
- Legal admissibility of FCE findings in court proceedings
- Inter-rater reliability among multiple FCE evaluators
Correct answer: The degree to which the client's performance reflects their true physical ability
Validity of effort addresses whether the client's demonstrated performance is a genuine representation of their functional capacity rather than submaximal effort.
CVE Functional Capacity Evaluation 3
Which of the following is a PRIMARY biomechanical concern an FCE evaluator monitors during floor-to-waist lifting tasks?