Title: A Comprehensive Functional Capacity Evaluation Guide
Headings: A Comprehensive Functional Capacity Evaluation Guide
A Comprehensive Functional Capacity Evaluation Guide
What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?
Why Are Functional Capacity Evaluations Important in Workers’ Compensation Claimants’ cases?
Are FCEs Used in Other Cases?
What Happens During an FCE?
I Need a Functional Capacity Evaluation for My Workers’ Comp Claim — What Do I Do?
I Need a Provider for an FCE for a Workers’ Comp Case — Where Can I Turn?

Content: An FCE works to define injury and to professionally evaluate the level of ability in a standardized way, which is often needed to determine the correct level of benefits. Rather than just labeling all injured workers as “incapacitated” or “injured,” a functional capacity evaluation takes a look at each worker in an individualized way to determine the best way to proceed. A functional capacity evaluation is also one way an injured worker’s ability is matched to the demands of the job. Each FCE is adapted for the specific injury and the specific job title the worker has. The role of the FCE is to determine how well an employee’s current abilities match the demands of their job. For example, if a postal worker needs to carry bags of mail and walk long distances as part of their job, a functional capacity evaluation may involve testing the worker’s ability to walk and carry heavy weights if they have suffered a back injury. If the FCE determines the worker cannot walk long distances, then the worker may not be able to return to the same duties but might be able to handle a desk job at the post office instead. In another case, an office worker with a similar injury may be cleared to return to work, or the FCE report may recommend the worker sit for no more than two hours at a time. In each case, the functional capacity evaluation determines recommendations for each specific injury and person, since every injury and illness is different. Why Are Functional Capacity Evaluations Important in Workers’ Compensation Claimants’ cases?