Functional capacity evaluation in Desoto, MO. Functional capacity evaluations (FCE) are essential in ensuring a safe and effective return to work for Desoto, MO residents who have suffered from workplace injuries. At Axes Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluations that help Desoto, MO residents return to the activities they love and get back to their employment, providing for their families and contributing to the community. We do what we do not just to assess your injury and recovery, but to assist you in returning to your best you safely and with confidence that you can achieve the task at hand.

If you’re looking for a functional capacity evaluation in Desoto, MO, call the Axes location nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.

What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?

A functional capacity evaluation is a exhaustive battery of examinations conducted to determine the performance levels of an individual across different functions, particularly concerning tasks they perform at work. It proves invaluable for Desoto, MO doctors, including physical therapists and occupational therapists, to evaluate a person’s ability to work and functionally perform basic tasks. This assessment is especially important for individuals on the mend from a work-related injury or illness, and are looking to return to their job or need modifications in their job tasks based on their present functional capacity.

Here are some key aspects of functional capacity evaluations in Desoto, MO:

• Purpose: A functional capacity evaluations primary purpose is to evaluate physical abilities in relation to job duties or daily activities. It’s frequently used in scenarios of workers’ compensation to find out if an employee can resume their duties after an injury, or what changes are required to suit their current capabilities.
• Components: A functional capacity evaluation usually includes tests that evaluate strength, stamina, flexibility, and mobility. It also evaluates the ability to execute common movements such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
• Duration: The evaluation can last several hours to a full day, depending on the severity of the individual’s circumstances and the specific requirements of the job or activities being examined.
• Results: The outcome of a functional capacity evaluation are instrumental in formulating rehabilitation goals, deciding if an individual can safely return to work, filing disability claims, or in disputed workers’ compensation cases to define the impact of the injury on your ability to work.
• Use in Rehabilitation: Besides employment contexts, physical and occupational therapists may use functional capacity evaluations to track progress and update treatment plans based on the patient’s progress or changes in functional status.

The results from a functional capacity evaluation help guide the rest of your treatment and rehabilitation. They provide conclusive data that can help Desoto, MO healthcare providers, employers, insurance companies, and other involved parties make well-informed decisions about a worker’s readiness to return to work and the type of accommodations that may be necessary to support this return. By understanding the functional limitations and capabilities, everyone involved can cooperate to create a constructive and efficient work environment that accommodates an individual’s recovery needs in Desoto, MO while ensuring productivity.

At Axes Physical Therapy in Desoto, MO, the functional capacity evaluation process utilizes the Bio-Ergonomics FCE system developed by Vic Zuccarello. This system integrates an understanding of biomechanics with ergonomics to offer a critically assessed, scientifically sound, and legally defensible assessment. This thorough approach ensures that the evaluation is completely comprehensive but also tailored to the individual’s unique job requirements in Desoto, MO and health status, enabling a smoother return to work.

What to Expect During Your Functional Capacity Evaluation in Desoto, MO

Experiencing a functional capacity evaluation in Desoto, MO at Axes Physical Therapy involves a structured process customized to thoroughly assess your physical capabilities regarding your job demands. Here is what you can expect during the evaluation:

• Pre-Evaluation Interview: A discussion about your medical history, specific job requirements, and any concerns you may have.
• Standardized Testing: Involves a series of tests that measure your physical strength, endurance, flexibility, and other abilities relevant to your work.
• Specific Task Simulation: Engage in work-related tasks that replicate the actual activities you would do in your job.
• Cardiovascular Assessment: Assesses your stamina and cardiovascular health, particularly your ability to engage in sustained activities.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: After the evaluation, the data collected is processed to create a thorough report that describes your capabilities and any limitations.

Following this procedure ensures a thorough assessment, providing critical data to help prepare for your return to work or adjust your work activities based on your current functional capacity.

Desoto, MO Functional Capacity Evaluations and Workplace Injury Recovery

A functional capacity evaluation is essential in the recovery and reintegration process for Desoto, MO workers who have experienced workplace injuries. By measuring an individual’s physical abilities in a thorough and scientifically proven manner, functional capacity evaluations fulfill multiple vital roles in the context of occupational health and safety. Here’s how the functional capacity evaluation influences various stakeholders involved in workplace injury recovery:

• Guidance for Physicians: Doctors depend on the factual data from functional capacity evaluations to better understand the extent of an injury and to advise suitable medical or rehabilitation measures. It assists in designing further treatment by outlining physical limitations and capacities.
• Decision-Making Tool for Employers: Employers reap advantages from functional capacity evaluations as they provide a precise assessment of an employee’s functional status, guiding decisions regarding the necessity for job accommodations, modifications, or even a change in role to match the employee’s current capabilities.
• Support for Insurance and Legal Considerations: Insurance companies and legal professionals employ functional capacity evaluation results to make informed decisions about claims related to workers’ compensation. The Bio-Ergonomics FCE ensures that the evaluations are sustainable in court, providing robust evidence that supports or contests a claim.
• Reassurance for the Injured Worker: For those injured at work, a functional capacity evaluation delivers a credible, transparent assessment of what activities you can safely perform, minimizing the risk of re-injury by prematurely returning to work without appropriate accommodations. This process is essential to setting realistic expectations and supports their psychological recovery, assuring that the worker’s return to work is handled with care and precision.
• Collaboration Among Parties: Functional capacity evaluation promotes a collaborative approach to an injured worker’s return to work. By creating a common understanding of the worker’s functional abilities, it helps align the goals of healthcare providers, employers, and insurance carriers, ensuring that all parties are working towards the most effective recovery plan.

Axes Physical Therapy’s Approach to Functional Capacity Evaluations in Desoto, MO

Axes Physical Therapy’s method to functional capacity evaluation is remarkable by its application of the Bio-Ergonomics FCE system, devised by Vic Zuccarello in 2005. This procedure is widely regarded as the gold standard for FCE and work rehabilitation in Desoto, MO, and in both Missouri and Illinois for over 30 years. Vic was viewed as the “go-to” expert by Desoto, MO physicians, case managers, adjusters, and attorneys with difficult cases and the confidence to present in a deposition or court of law. The system applies his experience and an evidence-based protocol to identify test behaviors and to document concisely, allowing the physician to determine maximal medical improvement (MMI).

Axes Physical Therapy prides itself on supporting effective recovery and safe return-to-work methodologies through meticulous and scientifically-backed functional capacity evaluations. Our method not only assists in accurately assessing an individual’s capacity to perform their job but also plays a critical role in managing the broader implications of work-related injuries in Desoto, MO.

Call Axes For Your Functional Capacity Evaluation in Desoto, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy in Desoto, MO, we are dedicated to helping our clients return to work and daily life through the precise, scientifically-backed functional capacity evaluation process. Using the Bio-Ergonomics FCE system developed by Vic Zuccarello in 2005, our evaluations are not only trustworthy and legally valid but are also deeply rooted in a holistic approach to patient care. We aim to ensure that every patient can safely get back to the activities and work they love, with a clear understanding of their capabilities and limitations.

If you or someone you know in Desoto, MO is healing from a workplace injury, consider a functional capacity evaluation with Axes Physical Therapy. Request an appointment online or call the Axes location nearest you. Together, let’s take a step towards a safe and effective recovery.