The Blog

Functional Capacity Assessment

Functional Capacity Assessments also known as FCA, highlight areas where a rehabilitation program might be able to improve strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. This allows us to refer clients for a course of physio and rehabilitation with specific goals to help them improve physical capability for their job role.

Molly Woollett

16/02/24

The Blog

Functional Capacity Assessment

Functional Capacity Assessments also known as FCA, highlight areas where a rehabilitation program might be able to improve strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. This allows us to refer clients for a course of physio and rehabilitation with specific goals to help them improve physical capability for their job role.

Author Name

16/02/24

Functional Capacity Assessment

What is a Functional Capacity Assessment?

FCA is an evaluation of capacity of activities that is used to make recommendations for participation in work, while considering the person’s body functions and structures, environmental factors, personal factors and health status.

Detailed FCA will provide quality information for Occupational Health and HR Teams, which is necessary in more complicated cases where aspects such as long-term restrictions, re-deployment or capability to safely fulfil contracted duties are being considered.

Most cases referred to us simply require a course of physio and rehab to get an employee back to the required level of recovery and capacity for work.

What does it involve?

  • The worker’s medical condition
  • The work duties that are restricted by the worker’s medical condition
  • The functional test(s) needed to measure the impact of the restricted duties identified

What Tests Do We Do?

  • Back Performance Scale – 5 short tests of the most common daily movements that require mobility of the back: sock test, pick-up test, roll-up test, fingertip-to-floor test, lift test (lifting high & lifting low)
  • Six-Minute Walk Test – To determine exercise capacity and general fitness for most roles, even sedentary. The client walks self-paced back and forth between two marked points for 6 minutes.
  • Timed Stand Test – It sometimes referred to as a sit-to-stand test. Changing from an upright standing position to fully seated as fast as possible within a set time (usually one minute) assess’ exercise capacity and leg strength.
  • Grip Strength – To determine upper limb strength and usually will use a device (dynameter). Good upper limb strength is particularly important to manual roles that involve lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.
  • Dexterity – It’s commonly tested using a Perdue Pegboard. This involves inserting metal pins into a board in a set time and then attaching washers and collars to the pins. This is to determine capability to carry out tasks including product assembly, typing, writing etc.

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