When you receive Arizona workers’ compensation benefits, questions that you and your employer will both have include how much your settlement claim is worth, when you can return to work, and in what capacity. To answer these questions objectively requires a professional opinion in the form of a functional capacity evaluation (FCE).

Here, we examine what an FCE is, who asks for it, who performs it, and how an Arizona workers’ compensation law firm like the Matt Fendon Law Group can help you prepare for your FCE.

If you have an FCE coming up, or want to learn more about how to get ready for your FCE, then call us at (800) 229-3880 at any time day or night, any day of the week. You can talk with an Arizona workers’ comp specialist and set up a free initial consultation this way or, if you prefer, contact us online to do the same.

What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?

The purpose of an FCE is to objectively assess your post-injury physical capabilities against the demands of your job against a set of objective standards. A physical therapist usually performs an FCE as the evaluator.

An FCE is an examination that usually takes four to eight hours but can sometimes last a full day or more. It involves standardized physical tests administered by a physical or occupational therapist.

FCEs are often used in connection with workers’ comp settlements, rehabilitation, and other disability claims. You can be subject to an FCE after you are injured at work to assess what kind of workers’ compensation benefits you are eligible for or later on to measure your recovery progress.

Conditions That May Require an FCE

An FCE can be requested to assess conditions like musculoskeletal impairment, movement and balance disorders, and other conditions involving pain, fatigue, weakness, numbness, or limited dexterity. These include low back injuries, sprains, strains, and crush injuries.

Common reasons for FCE requests include when you have reached maximum medical improvement, if there has been no treatment progress, if you are having trouble returning to gainful employment, or if the symptoms you report in connection with your injury or condition do not appear to match the findings of a treating physician.

Who Requests an FCE?

Before you undergo an FCE, someone will need to refer you to it. Often this is your treating doctor, but others can also make a referral, including workers’ compensation case managers, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, your employer, or an attorney.

In some cases you can request an FCE on your own; but if you do, the workers’ comp insurer may not cover the cost and you will have to pay for it.

What Does an FCE Include?

The FCE evaluator conducts a series of functional capacity evaluations to evaluate your physical abilities related to your work-related tasks. These will examine you in the following areas based on the US Department of Labor Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT):

• Physical strength
• Range of motion
• Posture
• Flexibility
• Lifting ability
• Stamina and cardiovascular capability
• Carrying ability
• Other abilities that your job duties require, like fine and gross motor skills, how long you can walk, sit, or stand

How to Prepare for Your FCE

Because the FCE can take considerable time and put you through some stress in its tests, preparing for it in advance is important. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your FCE goes as smoothly as possible:

• Get enough rest the night before the FCE. You will want to be well-rested and alert during the evaluation.
• If you are taking any prescription medications, make sure you take them before going to the evaluation. Bring them with you so that if you need to take them during the evaluation, they will be available.
• On the day of the FCE, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and dress in layers. If you have athletic shoes, wear them.
• Remember to bring any assistive devices you may need, such as crutches, eyeglasses, or a brace.
• Be familiar with your medical records and job description, and bring copies of these with you to the evaluation. This will help you answer questions the evaluator might ask about your medical history.

What Happens During Your FCE

Before the FCE begins, the evaluator will conduct a pre-evaluation screening to ensure you are ready and able to undergo the evaluation.

During the FCE testing, the examining therapist will ask questions about your job duties, injury or medical condition, and any past or current medical treatment you have received.

The functional testing activities will be based on your job requirements. During these activities, the evaluator will observe you to evaluate the effort required to perform the tests and whether you are experiencing any pain.

If you do experience pain, dizziness, or fatigue, then it is important to tell the evaluator. Aside from helping keep you safe, these symptoms will also become part of the FCE record.

What Happens When Your FCE is Complete

After the FCE, the therapist will discuss the results with you and submit a comprehensive medical assessment about your fitness to return to work with or without duty or workplace modifications to the referring doctor and any other people who may need it, including insurance claims adjusters, nurse case managers, vocational specialists, and lawyers. 

Your doctor may also use the report to fill out disability or restrictions paperwork.

The FCE Report

After your evaluation, the examiner will prepare a written report. This usually issues within a few days after the testing. 

The FCE report includes the results of each test or survey performed during the evaluation. It will also include conclusions about your effort, your physical capabilities, and whether you can return to your pre-injury job with or without accommodations. If accommodations are needed, the FCE report will include recommendations about what those should be.

How Does an FCE Determine Your Settlement Value?

The results of your FCE can influence your workers’ compensation settlement in multiple ways. Here are some of the more significant considerations.

Determining Your Recovery Progress

Your treating physician can use your FCE test results to determine whether you have recovered sufficiently to return to work. If the treating doctor concludes that you cannot resume your work duties, this may clear the way for you to receive workers’ compensation benefits to help compensate you for your lost wages.

Determining Your Degree of Disability and Your Future Earning Capacity

An FCE helps establish the extent of your work-related disability, what your ability to earn an income will be, and what kind of benefits you can receive under Arizona’s system of workers’ compensation, including medical benefits as well as temporary or permanent partial disability benefits, or temporary or permanent total disability benefits.

Permanent Work Restrictions

Permanent restrictions are limitations on your ability to perform certain job-related tasks or duties because of your work-related injury or illness. Examples of permanent restrictions include lifting restrictions, bending and twisting restrictions, and standing and walking restrictions.

Your treating doctor or a vocational rehabilitation counselor will be instrumental in identifying any permanent work restrictions, usually after an FCE.

Factors Influencing Permanent Restrictions in Arizona

In addition to the FCE results, the following factors can play a role in determining whether you will be subject to permanent work restrictions:

• Your medical impairment rating, such as limits on your ability to lift heavy objects.
• Rehabilitation goals that a vocational rehabilitation counselor considers in line with your job aspirations, skills, and abilities.
• Your employer’s ability to make accommodations to enable you to return to your old job or to perform modified duties.

Other Factors That Affect Your Workers’ Compensation Settlement

In addition to your FCE, the value of your workers’ compensation settlement can be influenced by factors including the injuries you have suffered and the medical treatment you have received, your medical bills, the treatments, emergency medical care, future medical care, physical therapy, medications you require, and any assistive devices you’ve will need.

How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help With Your Claim

Your workers’ comp lawyer can help you to prepare for your FCE and will be one of the people who will receive a copy of the evaluator’s report.

In addition to providing important information about your FCE test and using your results, your attorney can also help you with all other aspects of filing your Arizona workers’ compensation claim, including investigating the circumstances of your work-related accident or medical condition, calculating the value of your claim and your potential wage loss benefits, helping you to file your claim, negotiating with your employer’s insurance company, and if need be appealing a denial of your claim.

Talk to a Matt Fendon Law Group Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

At the Matt Fendon Law Group, our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers will help you with all parts of your workers’ compensation claim, including helping you get ready for an FCE or even requesting one. Our experienced attorneys have helped injured workers in Arizona with thousands of workers’ compensation cases.

We can help you to receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your lost wages, as well as your medical bills. Our attorneys will fight to get you the workers’ comp benefits you need and deserve as an injured worker. If your claim is denied, we will help you to make the strongest argument within the tight 90-day Arizona appeal deadline.

You do not need to fear an FCE or an FCE report; they are often useful tools in helping you get back to work or maximize your workers’ compensation benefits. To find out more about your workers’ comp claim and to arrange for a free consultation with a Matt Fendon Law Group attorney, call us at (800) 229-3880 or use our online contact resource.We have offices in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Prescott, and Flagstaff for your convenience.