Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) may be requested by the parties or by your doctor when an employee reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI). The FCE is a series of tests used to evaluate an Injured Worker’s Functional Loss, Work Abilities, Work Restrictions, the Validity of the Injured Worker’s Complaints, and the Nature and Extent of their injury. These tests will always be performed by an evaluator certified to conduct these examinations.

A functional capacity evaluation is designed to be safe and to provide impartial information about an injury or illness. The tests that are part of an FCE will evaluate a worker’s:

• Range of motion
• Physical strength
• Lifting ability
• Flexibility
• Stamina and ability to carry objects
• Other abilities required for their job

A functional capacity evaluation for a disability or illness helps to determine whether you can return to work. If you can return to work, an FCE can help determine whether you must return to work in a reduced capacity or whether certain accommodations must be made. Returning to full duty work too soon can cause re-injury. Often workers will injure one body part and require surgery, then will injure an additional body part when they are sent back to work too soon after surgery. For example, returning to work too soon after a knee surgery may affect your gait, injuring your back and hip, requiring treatment for those body parts even though this was not a body part included in the original injury. This is called a super added injury. Our goal in every case is to help an employee return to work safely.