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🏥 What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) — and Why You Might Need One

  • Writer: Shawn Christensen
    Shawn Christensen
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • 2 min read

If you or an employee were injured at work, recovering safely is just the start. Knowing when and how to return to work is crucial—and that’s exactly where a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) comes in.

At Healing Arts Physical Therapy in Yuba City, our thorough FCEs help guide critical decisions like return-to-work readiness, accommodation needs, and safe-duty job matching—all based on objective, performance-driven data.


🔍 What Is an FCE?

A Functional Capacity Evaluation is a comprehensive physical assessment designed to evaluate a patient’s current abilities after a work-related injury. It includes medical history review, physical and functional testing, and detailed reporting to support:

🛠️ What to Expect During an FCE at Healing Arts PT


1. Clinical PT Screening

  • Assessment of medical history, pain, and baseline vitals (BP, HR, O₂ saturation)

  • Observation of posture and gait during movement

2. Physical Testing

  • Range of Motion (ROM)

  • Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)

  • Grip and pinch strength

  • Balance and coordination

3. Functional Task Evaluation

  • Sitting, standing, walking tolerance

  • Reaching, bending, squatting

  • Stair navigation

  • Dexterity and fine motor tasks

4. Material Handling Assessment

  • Carrying, pushing, and pulling

  • Lifting from floor to waist, waist to shoulder, and overhead

5. Performance Monitoring & Reporting

  • Objective tracking of endurance, effort, pain response, and consistency

  • Identification of safe maximal abilities, limitations, and impairments

  • A comprehensive report with job-matching and return-to-work guidelines 


✅ Why Choose Healing Arts Physical Therapy for FCEs?

  • Objective & Reliable: Our licensed PTs provide performance-based evaluations—not subjective opinions.

  • Fast, Clear Reporting: Completed within 24–48 hours, with easy-to-understand, actionable insights.

  • Integrated Care: As a full-service PT clinic, we can provide follow-up rehabilitation when needed.

  • Local Expertise: Serving employers, case managers, and attorneys in Yuba City, Marysville, and Beale AFB.


💡 Who Should Consider an FCE?


  • Employees recovering from injury or surgery

  • Workers returning after workers’ compensation events

  • Job accommodation or light-duty assessments

  • Pre-employment baseline testing or long-term disability documentation


📞 Ready to Learn More or Refer a Patient?

Contact Healing Arts PT today to schedule an FCE or discuss how it can support your organization’s goals:

 
 
 

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