Title: Functional Capacity Evaluation - AOTA
Headings: Functional Capacity Evaluation
Functional Capacity Evaluation
Who Can Benefit From an FCE?

Content: Although individuals from other disciplines can be involved in FCEs, the occupational therapy practitioner brings unique knowledge and skills related to the complex and dynamic interactions between the person, the environment, and the occupation. The FCE may be used to determine: Goals for rehabilitation or readiness for discharge planning
Ability to safely return to work status (including full duty, modified duty, or transitional duty)
Work ability status for vocational rehabilitation
Workers' compensation case settlement
Disability status
Ability to meet job demands as part of a hiring process (pre-work/post-offer employment testing)
Ability to meet the demands of other activities (i.e., being a student, volunteering)
What Are the Components of the FCE? The components of the FCE will vary based on the purpose of the assessment. The FCE typically begins with a client interview, medical record review, and musculoskeletal screening. Functional testing may include graded material-handling activities such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling; and positional tolerance activities such as sitting, standing, walking, balancing, reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, object handling/manipulation, fingering, hand grasping, and hand manipulation. Pain monitoring is frequently performed during the FCE to document client-reported levels of pain during various activities as well as to manage pain. The FCE may also include evaluation of an individual's hand dexterity, hand coordination, endurance, and other job-specific functions. The FCE report includes an overall physical demand level (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.),