HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cross, D. L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cross, D. L

Vocational Rehabilitation Perspective

Some recent Letters to the Editor (eg, "Functional Capacity Evaluation" by Fishbain¹ in the January 2000 issue) concern measurements of functional capacity and the lack of validity for these measurements. I suggest considering what I believe is a vocational rehabilitation perspective to the problem. That is, to what extent can "physical functional capacity" alone determine vocational success?

There are numerous variables involved in human performance, and, if we view physical functional capacity as one variable, then we can begin to comprehend the complexity of the construct of "functional impairment." In other words, variables such as workplace culture, interpersonal communication, level of trust, group interaction processes, individual and organizational short-term and long-term goals, and other human resource development issues are likely to be equally important or more important. Because such concepts are probably ignored in many functional capacity evaluations (FCEs), it is no wonder that the measurements obtained with many FCEs seem unreliable and invalid for determining vocational success among individuals who have been injured and rehabilitated.

It would be beneficial for physical therapists involved in conducting FCEs to do some research into the vocational rehabilitation counseling literature and to incorporate what they consider to be relevant information into their evaluations. I believe that patients will appreciate the effort, and it will also be beneficial to the physical therapist. In an attempt to make FCEs more useful, I believe it is important to identify and clarify as many confounding variables as possible.

David L Cross, Certified Disability Analyst

Director of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
Indianapolis Rehabilitation Agency
8330 Naab Rd, Suite 311
Indianapolis, IN 46260

References

1. Fishbain DA. Functional capacity evaluation [letter to the editor]. Phys Ther.2000; 80:110,112.[Free Full Text]

This Article Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cross, D. L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cross, D. L