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Functional Abilities Evaluation
- Ability to do tasks safely
- Determine disability or impairment
- Active rehabilitation
A functional abilities evaluation (FAE) is useful to determine an employee’s functional abilities and physical fitness to return to work after an injury.
It is used for disability determinations, planning and monitoring an individual’s treatment and progress during rehabilitation.
There are a series of tests conducted that determine functional abilities of an individual in an objective manner and evaluate a person’s ability to safely do all activities that are normally possible in his or her job profile.
The function abilities evaluation compares the current performance levels of an individual to the daily demands of the profession an employee is in, and finds out if he or she is able to do them in a normal manner.
The journal ‘Przegla¸d epidemiologiczny (Przegl Epidemiol)’, published in Poland had a research summary on ‘The functional ability and efficiency of motor skills evaluation of individuals admitted into nursing homes in Poland’ on December 30, 2005, which covered a great deal on this subject.
Functional abilities evaluation will give a clear picture of physical and functional ability if the patient is recuperating through injury or disability. The assessment can help both the patient and the employer determine if he or she is fit for official duties of a normal work day. The patient can use a functional abilities evaluation to determine whether he or she is physically impaired by a work related injury as well as to determine work capability.
An individual is approved for disability benefits on the basis of the functional abilities evaluation. People also apply for the tests before court cases for personal injury or motor vehicle accidents. The functional abilities evaluation is done along with a physician’s independent medical examination.
1. How much time does it take for functional abilities evaluation? The functional abilities evaluation tests can last up to three to four hours.
2. What do work hardening programs mean? Work hardening programs are tests that determine an employee’s ability to return to work. Work simulated activities are incorporated in the program along with general conditioning and cardiovascular exercises to improve the individual’s ability to go back to work as he or she desires.
4. How can the employer benefit from functional abilities evaluation? The employer is able to use functional abilities evaluation to find out if the employee is capable to perform all or most of the tasks that are a part of his job profile. The employer will get an idea if the employee is physically fit to perform regular job tasks and if he or she can benefit from further rehabilitation. The employer will also be able to find out if the job can be modified or additional support will help the employee perform the tasks in a more efficient manner.
4. What is work conditioning evaluation? Work conditioning evaluation is one of the important components of functional abilities evaluation. It is a goal oriented comprehensive treatment that is specifically tailored to maintain and improve an individual’s musculoskeletal, neurological and systematic functions which are related to strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination.
5. What happens in functional abilities evaluation? The objective of functional abilities is to specifically determine the timely return of work or rehabilitation possibility of an employee who has been injured or sick. The functional abilities evaluation includes a detailed medical history and present conditions report, an objective clinical assessment of neuromuscular ability, strength and endurance, and also functional testing that includes tasks like lifting and carrying, bending, squatting, push-ups, bending, positional tolerances, aerobic capacity, use of hands to do various tasks and other work related physical abilities.
The patient must be medically stable before considering whether he or she is ready for a functional abilities evaluation. The patient must also agree to take part in the evaluation through an informed consent. The evaluation should not be directed and carried out if the individual's safety or medical condition could be compromised.
The following contraindications should be noted: surgery without adequate healing time or unhealed fractures, recent abdominal or inguinal hernia, blood pressure above 150/100, specific cardio-respiratory concerns or pregnancy. Pregnancy referrals should be postponed until at least 3 months post partum.
Top 5 reasons to consider functional abilities evaluation
1. Ability to do tasks safely: Through the series of tests and guidance provided through fitness abilities evaluation, I will get the confidence that I will be able to do the tasks safely. The evaluation can help me decide if after the treatment, I have the ability to meet the demands of my current job.
2. Motivation level: The functional abilities evaluation will help assess if I have the desired motivation to do the job well. I will be able to know where I stand in terms of my functional ability and how soon I will be able to work to my optimal capacity. I will have the exact idea of where I stand to, in terms of doing tasks of varied skill sets. The tasks to be done in functional abilities evaluation will motivate me to go for training programs so that I am able to restore and even enhance my strengths.
3. Disability determination: An objective documentation is provided that gives an indication of impairment or disability, if any. It will also help determine restrictions in the job or modifications or adjustments needed to prevent further risk or injury.
4. Increased trust level in employers: The employer gets a fair picture on the current status of his employee. He will be able to incorporate a better working condition for the employee to work better. He will be able to alter the job profile without being apprehensive about the employee’s leaving the company. The employer will also be able to make changes in the compensation plan as well.
5. Active rehabilitation: The employee will come to know if further rehabilitation or personal training program will be necessary for me. The feedback can be enormously helpful because I will know the areas of improvement to improve my health. I will be more fitness conscious than ever through the systematic and precise training, and rehabilitation plan advised by the functional abilities evaluation tests.
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