Measuring reliability of effort in functional capacity evaluations using digital video analysis

Abstract

Functional capacity evaluations (FCE) are utilized to evaluate the physical abilities of workers to perform the specific demands of a job. FCEs are being used increasingly by insurers, employers, health care providers and attorneys as the basis to make decisions regarding workplace supports, vocational rehabilitation, disability determination, and litigation. These factors require that FCEs must have objectivity, reliability, validity and defensibility. One of the key elements in the usefulness of an FCE is a measure of the level of effort given by the individual being tested. This study investigated determinants of an FCE that identified corresponding level of effort. Thirty-five healthy adults participated in a study to investigate whether computerized video movement analysis was an effective tool to determine consistency of effort during lifting (floor to waist and waist to overhead) and squatting activities of an FCE. Video data were examined using computerized analysis of each movement. The association between six factors identified from the video analysis and the distinction between real and intentionally sub-maximal efforts was analyzed. Terminal acceleration, mean velocity, and peak velocity were consistently, significantly correlated with consistency of effort in all three FCE activities. Computerized analyses of video taped FCE activities can identify factors associated with consistency of effort.