FCE Interpreting & Communicating Results 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When writing an FCE report, what does the term 'self-limiting behavior' indicate?
- The evaluee demonstrated submaximal effort due to perceived or actual pain (Correct answer)
- The evaluee refused to participate in testing
- The evaluee had a physical limitation preventing full range of motion
- The evaluee completed all tasks at maximum capacity
Correct answer: The evaluee demonstrated submaximal effort due to perceived or actual pain
Self-limiting behavior means the evaluee stopped or held back during testing based on their own pain or fear perception rather than a true physiological maximum.
Question 2: A physician requests clarification on an FCE report finding. What is the most appropriate evaluator response?
- Revise the report to match the physician's clinical impression
- Provide a written addendum explaining the specific finding with supporting data (Correct answer)
- Decline to clarify as the report is a legal document
- Refer the physician to the insurance carrier
Correct answer: Provide a written addendum explaining the specific finding with supporting data
A written addendum with supporting objective data is the professional way to clarify FCE findings without altering the original report.
Question 3: Which Matheson criterion is used to assess whether an evaluee gave full effort during an FCE?
- Waddell signs
- EPIC lift capacity score
- Coefficient of variation (CV) on grip strength testing (Correct answer)
- Visual analog scale pain rating
Correct answer: Coefficient of variation (CV) on grip strength testing
A coefficient of variation below 15% on repeated grip strength trials is a widely used indicator of consistent, reliable effort.
Question 4: In an FCE report, 'positional tolerance' most accurately refers to:
- The evaluee's ability to maintain a position for a sustained period (Correct answer)
- The evaluee's pain score during positional changes
- The range of motion available in a given joint
- The evaluee's maximum strength in a static position
Correct answer: The evaluee's ability to maintain a position for a sustained period
Positional tolerance measures how long an individual can maintain positions such as sitting, standing, or reaching without needing to change position.
Question 5: When FCE results indicate a MEDIUM work level, which DOT classification does this correspond to?
- Lifting up to 10 lbs occasionally
- Lifting up to 20 lbs occasionally and 10 lbs frequently
- Lifting up to 50 lbs occasionally and 25 lbs frequently (Correct answer)
- Lifting up to 100 lbs occasionally
Correct answer: Lifting up to 50 lbs occasionally and 25 lbs frequently
The U.S. DOT classifies Medium work as occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs and frequently lifting up to 25 lbs.
Question 6: An FCE report that conflicts with the treating physician's restrictions should:
- Always defer to the physician's restrictions
- Be automatically invalid and repeated
- Present objective findings clearly and allow the referral source to reconcile the discrepancy (Correct answer)
- Be withheld from the employer until resolved
Correct answer: Present objective findings clearly and allow the referral source to reconcile the discrepancy
The FCE evaluator presents objective functional data; reconciling discrepancies between FCE findings and physician restrictions is the responsibility of the referral source.
Question 7: Which statement best describes the use of the 'Coefficient of Variation' in FCE reporting?
- It measures the evaluee's pain tolerance during lifting tasks
- It quantifies variability between repeated trials to assess effort consistency (Correct answer)
- It calculates the percentage of work capacity lost due to injury
- It compares the evaluee's performance to age-matched norms
Correct answer: It quantifies variability between repeated trials to assess effort consistency
The CV quantifies how much repeated trial scores vary from the mean, with lower values (≤15%) indicating consistent, reliable effort.
FCE Interpreting & Communicating Results 2
When writing an FCE report, what does the term 'self-limiting behavior' indicate?