Use of Job-Specific Functional Capacity Evaluation to Predict the Return to Work of Patients With a Distal Radius Fracture

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We examined the predictive validity of a job-specific functional capacity evaluation (FCE) in relation to the return to work of patients with a distal radius fracture.METHOD. Return-to-work recommendations for 194 participants with a distal radius fracture were based on FCE performance. Three months after the evaluation, participants were contacted to ascertain their employment status to examine the predictive validity of each FCE-based rating.

Strategies occupational therapists employ to facilitate work-related transitions for persons with hand injuries: a study protocol for a scoping review

“…Hand injuries are a common reason for persons requiring vocational rehabilitation and/or occupational therapy intervention. In a study conducted from 2004 to 2006, it was established that 23.4% of people in Hong Kong who was referred to occupational therapy for work rehabilitation (n=3031), had sustained upper limb injuries 11. In the USA, the total cost of injuries involving the upper limb in 2004, has been estimated at approximately $19 billion and accounts for one-third of all injuries in the country 12.…”

“…The qualitative data revealed the complex nature of work-related transitions following a hand injury and indicated that professional input in specific areas probably contributed to successful work-related transitions 16. Self-perceived health has been shown to be an essential factor in successful work-related transitions following a traumatic work-related hand injury 11. Each of these studies contributed critical knowledge to the field of work-related transitions after a hand injury, however, few have identified the strategies that seemed to be most helpful in the context of a low-, middle- or high-income country.…”

Do patient characteristics affect the predictive validity of Functional Capacity Evaluations?

“…In contrast, no significant associations were found among the numerous other characteristics. Consequently, the predictive validity of ELA was not affected by age, gender, ICD-10 diagnoses, the employment status or fear-avoidance beliefs as well as those aspects, that Cheng and Cheng (Cheng and Cheng 2010 , 2011 ) associated with lower predictive validity, the level of physical work demands and days from injury to FCE.…”

“…To our knowledge, only two studies addressed this issue so far. The data were collected in patients with nonspecific low back pain (Cheng and Cheng 2010 ) and distal radius fracture, respectively (Cheng and Cheng 2011 ). Within the first study, a negative impact was found for compensable injury and in the case of high physical work demands.…”

Improved Functional Capacity Evaluation Performance Predicts Successful Return to Work One Year After Completing a Functional Restoration Rehabilitation Program

“…Some authors have demonstrated that trunk strength [13] and the amount of weight lifted during lifting tasks was predictive of work return [14,15]. Some authors have found that passing all prescribed FCE tests [16,17] or a combination of passing all FCE tests and a moderate or lower pain level [18] predicted work return. Carrying and lifting ability has also shown a weak prediction of posttreatment work retention [19].…”