Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

Matheson defined Functional Capacity Evaluation or FCE as

"[an] intensive short-term (usually one-day) evaluation that focuses on major physical tolerance abilities related to musculoskeletal strength, endurance, speed and flexibility."
Welding

We have been trained in the Matheson approach to FCE’s (www.roymatheson.com) and their Web site can give more details about their way of doing FCE’s.

FCE’s can be used to help provide the following services:

  • Functional Capacity Evaluation
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Work Conditioning
  • Work Hardening
  • Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing

An FCE would be designed on an individual basis rather than following a pre set protocol and it would focus on the key areas of injury and measuring the functional tolerances of the individual. By the end of the assessment, usually, it is reasonably clear to see what types of tasks that the person will be able to carry out over an 8-hour work day.

mjh consultancy find that these sorts of assessments are carried out when it is imperative that fairly detailed questions need to be answered. For instance:

  • Can my client go back to welding since he has had a rotator cuff tear?
  • What are the work tasks that my client can/can’t do now bearing in mind their left above knee amputation?
  • What modifications will be required to the job in order to allow my client to go back to work – he is a farmer and has had a whiplash injury.

It has been found that an FCE does not yield such good results when the questions being asked are very broad. If the person already has a job or has a clear idea of the job they want to do then results are much better because the assessment can be tailored to them. If the questions being asked are more related to career changes, then mjh consultancy would normally advise someone to do the career exploration first, get a clear idea of what sorts of jobs they would be prepared to try and then come back.

Just as an aside, here in the UK you there is no regulation in this field and as such anyone can set them self up to carry out these assessments. Occupational Therapists are registered with the Health Professions Council and members of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and other relevant organisations for which there are clear lines of accountability.