An FCE measures physical capabilities through standardized tasks: lifting, carrying, sitting, standing, reaching, and grip strength, typically over several hours. It produces documented restrictions and an assessment of work capacity.
Most protocols incorporate validity measures assessing whether the examinee gave consistent maximal effort.
Alternative Names:
FCE, Functional Capacity Assessment
Why it Matters?
The FCE bridges medical restrictions and vocational conclusions, so it drives both loss of earning capacity and life care planning. Validity testing is the feature that matters most in litigation: an evaluation documenting inconsistent effort undermines the entire disability presentation, while consistent maximal effort substantially strengthens it. Whether the evaluation was performed by a neutral or a retained provider is also a routine credibility issue.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What does an FCE measure?
What are validity measures?
