• Physical Rehabilitation
• What is FCE?
• Our Rehabilitation Programs
• Physical Therapy Locations

The Functional Capacity Evaluation Program

What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)?

Functional Capacity Evaluation, also known as a Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE), Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA), Work Capacity Evaluation (WCE), or informally as "functional testing", is an intensive short-term (usually one day) evaluation that focuses on major physical tolerance abilities related to musculoskeletal strength, endurance, speed and flexibility.

Functional Capacity Evaluation is not only a useful clinical tool, but a baseline for industry-standard results that clearly define an individual's transition from injury to employment, and from disability to deployment.

What is the purpose of the Functional Capacity Evaluation?
The purpose of the Functional Capacity Evaluation is to collect reliable information about current functional and vocational status and estimate potential functional and vocational status. This two-fold purpose is one of the hallmarks of the Matheson System. Case resolution purposes may be used to establish level of impairment (lowest level use of an FCE), as a Disability Evaluation, for Compromise and Release, or for Medical-Legal purposes (highest use of an FCE).

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is used by physicians, case managers, and employers to transition injured workers from disability to function and employment. FCE is the single most reliable measure to determine if a successful return-to-work is possible - as it is inherently a thorough and accurate evaluation process that documents an individual's residual physical abilities, level of effort expended during testing, reliability of reports of pain and limitation, and it is an overall gauge of feasibility for employment.