Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2009):

Normative values for a functional capacity evaluation.

Full Abstract

Soer R, van der Schans CP, Geertzen JH, Groothoff JW, Brouwer S, Dijkstra PU, Reneman MF. Normative values for a functional capacity evaluation. OBJECTIVE: To establish normative values for a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) of healthy working subjects. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy working subjects (N=701; 448 men, 253 women) between 20 and 60 years of age, working in more than 180 occupations. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects performed a 2-hour FCE consisting of 12 work-related tests. Subjects were classified into categories based on physical demands according to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Means, ranges, SDs, and percentiles were provided for normative values of FCE, and a regression analysis for outcome of the 12 tests was performed. RESULTS: Normative FCE values were established for 4 physical demand categories. CONCLUSIONS: The normative values enable comparison of patients' performances to these values. If a patient's performance exceeds the lowest scores in his/her corresponding demand category, then the patient's capacity is very likely to be sufficient to meet the workload. Further, clinicians can make more precise return-to-work recommendations and set goals for rehabilitation programs. A comparison of the normative values can be useful to the fields of rehabilitation, occupational, and insurance medicine. Further research is needed to test the validity of the normative values with respect to workplace assessments and return-to-work recommendations.

Author information

Author/s: Soer, Remko (R); van der Schans, Cees P (CP); Geertzen, Jan H (JH); Groothoff, Johan W (JW); Brouwer, Sandra (S); Dijkstra, Pieter U (PU); Reneman, Michiel F (MF);

Affiliation: Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.soer(-atsign-)cvr.umcg.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 90 (issue 10) : pp 1785-94

Dates: Created 2009/10/05; Completed 2009/10/22;

PMID: 19801072, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/22/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Disability Evaluation Female Hand Strength Health Status Humans Male

Male Mental Health Middle Aged Oxygen Consumption Postural Balance Reference Values Rehabilitation Centers

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