What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) in an Alabama Workers’ Compensation Case?

What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) in an Alabama Workers’ Compensation Case?

If you have suffered a serious job injury—particularly to your neck, back, shoulder, hips, or multiple body parts—you may eventually be told that your doctor has ordered a Functional Capacity Evaluation, commonly referred to as an FCE.  For most injured workers, this is the first time they have ever heard that term, and it naturally raises the question:

What is an FCE, and how does it affect my case?

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a physical test designed to evaluate what type of work activities you are capable of performing after a job injury.

The stated purpose of the test is to determine:

• whether you can return to your previous job, and
• if not, what level of work you can perform on a full-time basis

Work levels are generally classified as:

• Sedentary
• Light
• Medium
• Heavy
• Very Heavy

FCEs are typically performed by a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or physician, and the results are sent to your authorized treating physician. Your doctor may adopt those findings or issue their own set of work restrictions.

An FCE can play a significant role in your workers’ compensation claim because it is often used to:

• determine your permanent work restrictions
• assess your ability to return to work
• influence whether you are offered a job within your restrictions
• impact the value of any potential settlement or verdict

Because of this, the results of an FCE can have long-term consequences for your case. Having stated this, while FCEs can provide useful information, it is important to understand their limitations.

There are no universally accepted standards for how these evaluations must be conducted, and different evaluators may use different testing methods. As a result, outcomes can vary.

Additionally, an FCE is performed over a relatively short period of time, but it is often used to draw conclusions about what a person can do on a sustained, full-time basis—which is not always an easy determination to make.

The “Effort” Issue

In many cases, FCE reports will comment on whether the injured worker gave “valid effort” during testing.  If the evaluator believes the effort was less than full, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier may argue that the worker is capable of doing more than reported.

However, this issue is often more complicated than it appears. Many injured workers limit their effort during testing because of:

• pain
• fear of re-injury
• prior medical advice to avoid certain movements

An FCE does not always explain why a worker may have limited their performance, and those distinctions can be important.

If you are required to attend an FCE, there are a few practical points to keep in mind:

• Wear Work Clothes to the evaluation. Quite often our clients are contacted about he date/time of the Functional Capacities Evaluation and told to “wear something comfortable.”  Why?  If you can’t wear it to work in, do not wear it for a test whose sole purpose ostensibly is to determine (i) if you can return to the job you had when you suffered your workplace injury or (ii) perform any other jobs.
• Be honest and consistent. Do not exaggerate your abilities, but do not attempt to push beyond what you can safely do.
• Follow instructions carefully. The evaluator will be observing not just your strength, but also your consistency of movement.
• Communicate your pain. If something hurts, say so.
• Do not try to “tough it out.” The purpose of the test is not to prove how much pain you can tolerate.
• The Grip Test: As part of the majority of Functional Capacities Evaluations, the injured worker will be asked to squeeze some handles which read the worker’s grip strength, and later asked to squeeze again so a Bell Curve reading can be computed.  Unless the injured worker has a hand injury, the only real reason I know for this test is so the examiner can have some data to help them determine whether the worker put forth valid efforts.  With

A Functional Capacity Evaluation is just one piece of the puzzle in an Alabama workers’ compensation case. While it may assist your doctor in determining work restrictions, it should not be viewed in isolation from your medical records, your treating physician’s opinions, and your overall condition, but because an FCE can affect both your ability to return to work and the value of your claim, it is important to understand what the test is—and what it is not.

If you have suffered a job injury and you have questions about your rights and benefits under Alabama’s workers compensation laws -don’t hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability attorneys at Powell and Denny today for a free consultation. Appointments are available in person, or virtually via Zoom if more convenient.  Powell and Denny would appreciate the opportunity to help.  And remember, there is no fee unless you win.

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What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) in an Alabama Workers’ Compensation Case