Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Functional Capacity Evaluation Research: Report from the Fourth International Functional Capacity Evaluation Research Meeting

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose To summarize progress of functional capacity evaluation (FCE) research based on the proceedings of the Fourth International FCE Research Conference held in Switzerland on September 21 and 22, 2018. Methods A scientific committee identified key issues in FCE research and developed the program including key note presentations, a call for abstracts, and round table discussions over 2 days. Highlights of the presentations and discussions are summarized in this article. Results Seventy-nine participants from 11 countries attended the conference where 10 keynote lectures and 21 abstracts were presented. There was also an open discussion regarding the need for an International FCE clinical practice guideline (CPG), methods for developing such a guideline, and practical next steps. Full program details and abstracts from this Fourth International FCE Research Conference are available from https://www.sar-reha.ch/interessengemeinschaften/ig-ergonomie.html. Conclusions Researchers and clinicians continue to increase the body of knowledge in the FCE field. A major finding of this conference is the diversity across the different FCE protocols and research groups as well as of the different uses of FCE across cultural and social economic systems. Next steps will include exploring the development of an international, interdisciplinary, evidence-based FCE clinical practice guideline by a committee formed at the conference.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Soer R, van der Schans CP, Groothoff JW, Geertzen JH, Reneman MF. Towards consensus in operational definitions in functional capacity evaluation: a Delphi survey. J Occup Rehabil. 2008;18(4):389–400.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Reneman MF, Soer R, Gross DP. Developing research on performance- based functional work assessment: report on the first international functional capacity evaluation research meeting. J Occup Rehabil. 2013;23(4):513–515.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. James CL, Reneman MF, Gross DP. Functional capacity evaluation research: report from the second international functional capacity evaluation research meeting. J Occup Rehabil. 2016;26(1):80–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Edelaar MJA, Gross DP, James CL, Reneman MF. Functional capacity evaluation research: report from the third international functional capacity evaluation research meeting. J Occup Rehabil. 2017;28(1):130–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Barth J, de Boer WE, Busse JW, Hoving JL, Kedzia S, Couban R, Fischer K, von Allmen DY, Spanjer J, Kunz R. Inter-rater agreement in evaluation of disability: systematic review of reproducibility studies. BMJ. 2017;356:j14. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j14.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. De Baets S, Calders P, Schalley N, Vermeulen K, Vertriest S, Van Peteghem L, Coussens M, Malfait F, Vanderstraeten G, Van Hove G, Van de Velde D. Updating the evidence on functional capacity evaluation methods: a systematic review. J Occup Rehabil. 2018;28(3):418–428.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kaiser M, Klipstein A, Knöpfel R, Rattin U, Vallon P. Resource-oriented reintegration into the labor market other organizations and institutions. Switz Med Doct. 2019;100(26):886–888. https://doi.org/10.4414/saez.2019.17942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bethge M, Markus M, Streibelt M, Gerlich C, Schuler M. Implementing the German model of work-related medical rehabilitation: did the delivered dose of work-related treatment components increase? Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(12):2465–2471.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Neuderth S, Schwarz B, Gerlich C, Schuler M, Markus M, Bethge M. Work-related medical rehabilitation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: the protocol of a propensity score matched effectiveness study (EVA-WMR, DRKS00009780). BMC Public Health. 2016;16:804. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3437

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Streibelt M, Bethge M. Effects of intensified work-related multidisciplinary rehabilitation on occupational participation: a randomized-controlled trial in patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37(1):61–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bühne D, Alles T, Hetzel C, et al. The prognostic validity of the functional capacity evaluation ELA in work-related medical rehabilitation. Die Rehabil. 2018;57(2):92–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tüscher J, Burrus C, Vuistiner P, Léger B, Rivier G, Luthi F. Predictive value of the fear-avoidance model on functional capacity evaluation. J Occup Rehabil. 2018;28(3):513–522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-017-9737-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Reneman MF, Roelofs M, Schiphorst Preuper HR. Reliability and agreement of neck functional capacity evaluation tests in patients with chronic multifactorial neck pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2017;98(7):1476–1479.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hollak N, Soer R, van der Woude LH, Reneman MF. Towards a comprehensive functional capacity evaluation for hand function. Appl Ergon. 2014;45(3):686–692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.09.006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jacobs NW, Berduszek RJ, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK. Validity and reliability of the upper extremity work demands scale. J Occup Rehabil. 2017;27(4):520–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-016-9683-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cavalini MA, Berduszek RJ, van der Sluis CK. Construct validity and test-retest reliability of the revised upper extremity work demands (UEWD-R) scale. Occup Environ Med. 2017;74(10):763–768. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2017-104370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. MCCabe E, Gross DP, Bulut O. Procedures to develop a computerized adaptive test to assess patient-reported physical functioning. Qual Life Res. 2018;27(9):2393–2402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Roossien CC, Stegenga J, Hodselmans AP, Spook SM, Koolhaas W, Brouwer S, Verkerke GJ, Reneman MF. Can a smart chair improve the sitting behavior of office workers? Appl Ergon. 2017;65:355–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.07.012.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. West N, Snodgrass SJ, James C. The effect of load on biomechanics of the back and upper limb in a bench to shoulder lift during the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation. Work. 2018;59(2):201–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. James C, MacKenzie L, Capra M. Content validity of the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation. Aust Occup Ther J. 2019;66(3):380–392. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12565.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Melino NL, James C, Snodgrass SJ. The effect of load in a floor-to-bench lift during the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation. Work. 2014;49(4):585–596. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131698.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Andersson GBJ, Cocchiarella L. Guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment. 5th ed. Chicago: American Medical Association; 2000. ISBN-10: 1579470858

  23. Schindl M, Wassipaul S, Wagner T, Gstaltner K, Betghe M. Impact of functional capacity evaluation on patient-reported functional ability: an exploratory diagnostic before-after study. J Occup Rehabil. 2019;29(4):711–717. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09829-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schindl M, Zipko H, Wassipaul S. Is work capacity in trauma patients influenced by comorbidity. In: 15th congress of EFRR congress of the European forum for research in rehabilitation Berlin, 15–17 2019 Berlin DRV-Schriften Band 117; 533–534

  25. van Wilgen CP, Testa M. Proceedings of pain science in motion colloquium—3rd ed. May 31st—June 2nd, University of Genoa-Campus of Savona, Italy. Giving insight in pain research of tomorrow!·May/June 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3, p e753. https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000000753. www.painreportsonline.com

Download references

Acknowledgements

The following FCE researchers and clinicians have actively contributed to the discussion on research needs, reviewed this brief report, and agreed to be acknowledged for their contributions: T. Hornung, I.Herzog-Zwitter, A. Klipstein, R. Kunz, S. De Baets, D. van de Velde, J. Ansuategui Echeita, R. Knöpfel, M. Steibelt, T. Alles, C. Burrus, R. Berduszek, H. Huwiler, B. Tissi, C. Roossien, R Soer, R. Sellars, M.Schindl, U. Schwarzer.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Center Heliomare, Wijk aan zee, The Netherlands

    M. J. A. Edelaar

  2. Work Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Valens, Switzerland

    P. R. Oesch

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    D. P. Gross

  4. School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    C. L. James

  5. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    M. F. Reneman

Authors
  1. M. J. A. Edelaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. R. Oesch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. P. Gross
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. L. James
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. F. Reneman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. J. A. Edelaar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Edelaar, Oesch, Gross, James and Reneman declare they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

The scientific conference included no data collection, so ethics approval was not pursued. However, each of the studies presented at the conference had received appropriate ethical approval as required.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Edelaar, M.J.A., Oesch, P.R., Gross, D.P. et al. Functional Capacity Evaluation Research: Report from the Fourth International Functional Capacity Evaluation Research Meeting. J Occup Rehabil 30, 475–479 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-020-09876-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-020-09876-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation