FCE stands for Functional Capacity Evaluation, which is a process used to test and assess a person’s physical abilities and functional capacity. An FCE can be especially helpful when someone is recovering from an injury and needs to determine what activities they are physically capable of performing, including whether they may be able to safely return to certain work-related tasks. The information gathered during an FCE can help physicians, employers, insurers, and other appropriate professionals better understand a patient’s current functional abilities and what their next steps may be during the recovery process.
An FCE can include many different activities depending on the patient’s condition, occupation, and objectives for the evaluation. Some examples can include floor-to-waist lifting, sustained overhead lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling, bending, squatting, torso twisting, and repetitive movements. These activities are designed to assess how a person responds to physical demands that may be similar to what they experience during their everyday life or at work. The evaluation may also look at things such as strength, endurance, range of motion, balance, and the ability to safely perform specific movements.
One of the benefits of an FCE is that it provides more than just a snapshot of how someone feels on a particular day. The evaluation can provide objective information about how a person performs different physical tasks and where they may still have limitations. For someone returning to a physically demanding job, this information can be especially useful in determining whether certain tasks may need to be modified or whether additional rehabilitation may be appropriate.
FCEs can also be useful as part of the workers’ compensation and personal injury rehabilitation process. The results can help the appropriate professionals better understand a patient’s functional abilities and limitations following treatment. An FCE does not simply determine whether someone is “ready” or “not ready” to return to work. Instead, it provides information that can help physicians and other decision-makers make informed recommendations about work restrictions, rehabilitation, and the patient’s next steps.
At Specialized Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you safely regain the strength, mobility, endurance, and confidence you need to return to the activities that matter to you. If you need an FCE or are working toward getting back to your job or everyday activities after an injury, inquire with Specialized Physical Therapy today and let our team help you get back to what you love.