Functional Capacity Evaluation
A comprehensive, objective assessment that answers a single critical question: what can this person safely do at work? Our therapists deliver defensible, standardized FCEs for physicians, employers, insurers, and attorneys across the greater Memphis area.
Certified Specialists in the Treatment of Injured Workers— backed by the rehab industry's most comprehensive workers' compensation training in outpatient rehab, functional testing, and industrial rehabilitation.
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a structured battery of physical tests — typically lasting four to eight hours over one or two days — administered by a specially trained physical or occupational therapist. Unlike a standard clinical exam, an FCE measures your real-world tolerance for the specific physical demands of work: lifting, carrying, reaching, standing, bending, gripping, and sustained activity.
Total Care Physical Therapy has offered FCE services since 2011, with our therapists completing nearly 200 evaluations for injured workers, disability claimants, and post-surgical patients. We document measured abilities against the U.S. Department of Labor's Physical Demand Levels (Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy) and provide a clear, evidence-based report that stands up to scrutiny from insurers, courts, and occupational medicine reviewers.
Our approach incorporates validated frameworks — including components from the Matheson, Blankenship, and Isernhagen (WorkWell) systems — and embeds validity testing throughout. Effort consistency, symptom/observation cross-checks, and standardized grip measures give every report a foundation of defensible data, not opinion.
The FCE Process
A standardized, repeatable sequence designed to produce reliable, defensible data
- 1
Record Review & Referral Clarification
We review your medical records, imaging, surgical notes, job description, and the specific referral question from your physician, employer, or case manager.
- 2
Patient Interview & Symptom Baseline
A detailed interview captures injury history, pain levels, and self-reported function using validated tools such as the Oswestry Disability Index or DASH.
- 3
Musculoskeletal Screen & Vitals
Range of motion, strength, neurological screening, posture, and resting vitals establish a clinical baseline before task testing begins.
- 4
Material Handling Testing
Lifting (floor-to-waist, waist-to-shoulder, overhead), carrying, pushing, and pulling are measured under standardized protocols with safety monitoring.
- 5
Positional & Job-Task Testing
Sitting, standing, walking, stooping, crouching, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching tolerance — plus job-specific task simulation when a target job is known.
- 6
Dexterity, Grip & Cardiovascular Assessment
Jamar grip dynamometry, pinch strength, fine-motor coordination, and cardiovascular endurance testing round out the functional profile.
- 7
Validity & Effort Measures
Built-in checks — coefficient of variation on grip trials, rapid exchange grip, heart-rate consistency, and cross-validation of subjective and observed behavior — confirm the reliability of the results.
- 8
Comprehensive Written Report
Findings are mapped to U.S. Department of Labor Physical Demand Levels (Sedentary through Very Heavy) with clear work restrictions and direct answers to the referral question.
What We Test
Every FCE covers the full spectrum of physical job demands
Material Handling
- Floor-to-waist lifting
- Waist-to-shoulder lifting
- Overhead lifting
- Carrying
- Pushing & pulling
Positional Tolerance
- Sitting
- Standing
- Walking
- Stooping / bending
- Crouching, kneeling & crawling
- Climbing stairs & ladders
- Balancing
- Reaching (forward & overhead)
Strength & Coordination
- Grip strength (Jamar)
- Pinch strength
- Fine-motor coordination
- Upper and lower extremity strength
Endurance & Validity
- Cardiovascular tolerance
- Sustained-activity tolerance
- Effort consistency measures
- Observed vs. reported cross-checks
Benefits for Everyone Involved
An FCE protects the worker, the workplace, and every decision-maker in the claim
For the Patient / Worker
- Objective, defensible evidence of true functional ability — not guesswork
- Clear work restrictions that reduce the risk of re-injury
- Data that informs realistic rehabilitation goals and accommodations
- Credible documentation to support disability claims and legal cases
- A definitive answer to 'What can I safely do?'
For the Employer
- Informed decisions on job placement, transitional duty, and accommodations
- Reduced risk of re-injury and associated workers' compensation costs
- Support for ADA, FMLA, and OSHA return-to-work obligations
- Reduced litigation exposure through objective, standardized documentation
- Confidence that the worker's abilities match the essential job functions
For Physicians, Insurers & Attorneys
- Objective data supporting MMI determinations and impairment ratings
- Removes subjectivity from work-restriction and disability decisions
- Defensible, standardized methodology accepted in legal proceedings
- Helps close claims efficiently and appropriately
- Evidence-based input for treatment planning and case management
Who Refers for an FCE?
FCEs inform consequential decisions — return-to-work clearance, maximum medical improvement, impairment ratings, and disability determinations — so they're requested by anyone who needs objective, defensible functional data.
If you're unsure whether an FCE is appropriate for your situation, contact us. We'll help you understand what an evaluation can and can't answer before you commit.
- Workers' compensation insurers & case managers
- Employers & HR departments
- Treating physicians & surgeons
- Long- and short-term disability insurers
- Attorneys (personal injury & workers' comp)
- Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI)
- Vocational rehabilitation counselors
The FCE is the report — the coordination is the service
An evaluation only matters if the right people see it, act on it, and understand it. We don't just hand you a PDF — we work directly with your employer, case manager, insurer, and physician so the findings translate into real decisions about work, benefits, and next steps.
Employers & HR
We document essential job demands, communicate work restrictions, and keep supervisors informed so modified and full-duty decisions are backed by real data — not guesswork.
Case Managers & Insurers
Direct communication on authorizations, progress milestones, claim documentation, and billing. Nothing stalls because a form is missing or a call was never returned.
Physicians & Surgeons
Shared records, aligned treatment protocols, and coordinated clearances keep every provider on the same page as your recovery progresses.
One less thing for you — or your employer — to manage.
Coordinated Return to Work
An FCE tells you what a worker can do today. Our CRTW program closes the gap between current ability and the full demands of the job — with therapist-led conditioning, job-task simulation, and direct coordination with employer, physician, and insurer.
Request an FCE or Ask a Question
Our team can walk you through scheduling, referral requirements, and what to expect on the day of your evaluation.