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Approaches to the Quantitative Physical and Functional Capacity Assessment of Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Book cover Handbook of Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability Disorders in the Workplace

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW))

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Abstract

In this chapter, we consider the objective characteristics that would be needed for an ideal assessment of worker physical and functional capacities. We review the pertinent clinical literature relating to quantitative assessment of physical capacity and function in the injured worker setting, from 1999 to 2012, and draw conclusions about the usefulness, if any, of these tests in the current environment. We also examine some recent findings from the physiology literature that may shed light on future improvements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5161 Harry Hines Blvd, Suite 104, Dallas, TX, 75390-9055, USA

    Samuel M. Bierner M.D., M.R.M.

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  1. Samuel M. Bierner M.D., M.R.M.
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Correspondence to Samuel M. Bierner M.D., M.R.M. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

    Robert J. Gatchel

  2. Dept of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Izabela Z. Schultz

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Bierner, S.M. (2014). Approaches to the Quantitative Physical and Functional Capacity Assessment of Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders. In: Gatchel, R., Schultz, I. (eds) Handbook of Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability Disorders in the Workplace. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0612-3_16

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