FCE Assessment & Evaluation Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which NIOSH equation variable accounts for horizontal distance of the load from the worker's body at the origin of lift?
- Vertical Multiplier (VM)
- Horizontal Multiplier (HM) (Correct answer)
- Frequency Multiplier (FM)
- Coupling Multiplier (CM)
Correct answer: Horizontal Multiplier (HM)
The Horizontal Multiplier (HM) decreases the Recommended Weight Limit as horizontal distance from the body increases.
Question 2: A client performing a material handling task demonstrates Valsalva maneuver with color change and breath-holding. The evaluator should FIRST:
- Record the observation and continue the test
- Stop the task immediately and assess cardiovascular status (Correct answer)
- Increase the load to challenge the client further
- Document the behavior as evidence of sub-maximal effort
Correct answer: Stop the task immediately and assess cardiovascular status
Valsalva maneuver combined with color change signals potential cardiovascular stress; the evaluator must stop and assess safety before continuing.
Question 3: The Functional Assessment Screening Tool (FAST) is primarily designed to evaluate which population within an FCE context?
- Athletes recovering from sports injuries
- Workers with musculoskeletal disorders seeking return-to-work clearance (Correct answer)
- Pediatric patients with developmental disabilities
- Elderly individuals in assisted living settings
Correct answer: Workers with musculoskeletal disorders seeking return-to-work clearance
The FAST screens functional abilities relevant to occupational demands for workers with musculoskeletal conditions.
Question 4: When documenting sincerity of effort, which behavioral observation is considered MOST objective?
- Client's verbal report of pain during testing
- Evaluator's subjective impression of motivation
- Coefficient of variation on repeated isometric grip trials (Correct answer)
- Number of rest breaks requested
Correct answer: Coefficient of variation on repeated isometric grip trials
The coefficient of variation on repeated grip trials is a quantitative, objective measure of effort consistency recognized in FCE literature.
Question 5: Which component of an FCE specifically addresses the client's ability to tolerate bending the spine forward repeatedly in a work task simulation?
- Dynamic flexibility testing
- Static postural tolerance assessment
- Stooping and repetitive trunk flexion evaluation (Correct answer)
- Cardiovascular endurance testing
Correct answer: Stooping and repetitive trunk flexion evaluation
Stooping and repetitive trunk flexion evaluation directly measures tolerance for repeated forward bending as required in many occupational tasks.
Question 6: An evaluee's safe lifting capacity is determined to be 40 lbs occasionally. According to DOL guidelines, this worker most closely matches which physical demand category?
- Sedentary
- Light
- Medium (Correct answer)
- Heavy
Correct answer: Medium
The DOL defines Medium work as lifting up to 50 lbs occasionally and 25 lbs frequently; 40 lbs occasional lifting falls within this category.
Question 7: During a climbing evaluation, which safety criterion should prompt immediate termination of the stair-climbing task?
- Client requests a brief rest at the midpoint
- Heart rate exceeds 85% of age-predicted maximum (Correct answer)
- Client uses handrail on descent
- Test duration exceeds 10 minutes
Correct answer: Heart rate exceeds 85% of age-predicted maximum
Exceeding 85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate is a cardiovascular safety threshold that requires test termination.
FCE Assessment & Evaluation Techniques 3
Which NIOSH equation variable accounts for horizontal distance of the load from the worker's body at the origin of lift?