Earth City, MO

Earth City, MO

Get back to work and the activities you love with Axes Physical Therapy in Earth City, MO.

Functional capacity evaluation in Earth City, MO. Functional capacity evaluations (FCE) are vital in getting Earth City, MO residents back to work and their daily routine after an injury at work. At Axes Physical Therapy, we specialize in providing thorough evaluations that help Earth City, MO residents resume the activities they love and return to work, supporting their families and being involved in the community. We do what we do not just to assess your injury and recovery, but to help you return to your best you safely and with confidence that you can accomplish the task at hand.

All of our functional capacity evaluations and treatment modalities are backed by science. Call the Axes location nearest you or schedule an appointment online right away.

What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?

A functional capacity evaluation is a exhaustive series of examinations performed to determine the performance levels of an individual across different functions, particularly in the realm of work-related activities. It proves invaluable for Earth City, MO medical professionals, including physical therapists and occupational therapists, to evaluate a person’s ability to work and functionally perform basic tasks. This assessment is critically important for individuals in recovery from a work-related injury or illness, and are looking to resume work or seek modifications in their job tasks based on their existing abilities.

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

  • Purpose: The chief goal of a functional capacity evaluation is to determine physical abilities in relation to job duties or daily activities. It’s frequently used in situations of workers’ compensation to ascertain if an employee can get back to their job after an injury, or what modifications are required to accommodate their current capabilities.
  • Components: A functional capacity evaluation typically includes tests that evaluate physical strength, endurance, flexibility, and mobility. It also evaluates the ability to carry out common movements such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
  • Duration: The evaluation may extend from several hours to a full day, depending on the intricacy of the individual’s circumstances and the specific requirements of the job or activities being examined.
  • Results: The results of a functional capacity evaluation play a key role in formulating rehabilitation goals, ascertaining if an individual can safely return to work, supporting disability claims, or in disputed workers’ compensation cases to specify the impact of the injury on your ability to work.
  • Use in Rehabilitation: Even outside of employment contexts, physical and occupational therapists may use functional capacity evaluations to monitor progress and revise treatment plans based on your recovery 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 Earth City, MO healthcare providers, employers, insurance companies, and other concerned parties make well-informed decisions about a worker’s readiness to return to work and the type of modifications that might be needed to aid this return. By understanding the limitations and functional abilities, everyone involved can cooperate to create a productive and accommodating work environment that accommodates an individual’s recovery needs in Earth City, MO while maintaining productivity.

At Axes Physical Therapy in Earth City, 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 provide a critically assessed, scientifically sound, and legally defensible assessment. This thorough approach ensures that the evaluation is extremely detailed but also tailored to your unique job requirements in Earth City, MO and health status, aiding a safe and effective transition back to work.

What to Expect During Your Functional Capacity Evaluation in Earth City, MO

Undergoing a functional capacity evaluation in Earth City, MO at Axes Physical Therapy consists of a structured process customized to comprehensively assess your physical capabilities regarding your job demands. Here is what you can anticipate during the evaluation:

  • Pre-Evaluation Interview: A discussion about your medical history, specific job requirements, and any issues you might raise.
  • Standardized Testing: Includes a series of tests that assess your physical strength, endurance, flexibility, and other abilities pertinent to your work.
  • Specific Task Simulation: Participate in work-related tasks that replicate the actual activities you would perform on the job.
  • Cardiovascular Assessment: Measures your stamina and cardiovascular health, particularly your ability to carry out sustained activities.
  • Data Analysis and Reporting: After the evaluation, the data collected is analyzed to create a comprehensive report that details your capabilities and any limitations.

Following this procedure ensures a detailed assessment, offering critical data to help strategize your reintegration into the workplace or adjust your work activities based on your current functional capacity.

Earth City, MO Functional Capacity Evaluations and Workplace Injury Recovery

A functional capacity evaluation is instrumental in the healing and return-to-work process for Earth City, MO persons who have suffered workplace injuries. By evaluating an individual’s physical abilities in a thorough and scientifically validated manner, functional capacity evaluations fulfill multiple critical 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 rely on the concrete data from functional capacity evaluations to better understand the extent of an injury and to advise suitable medical or rehabilitation measures. It assists in planning further treatment by outlining physical limitations and capacities.
  • Decision-Making Tool for Employers: Employers gain from functional capacity evaluations as they provide a clear assessment of an employee’s functional status, guiding decisions regarding the requirement for job accommodations, modifications, or even a change in role to accommodate the employee’s current capabilities.
  • Support for Insurance and Legal Considerations: Insurance companies and legal professionals utilize functional capacity evaluation results to formulate informed judgments about claims related to workers’ compensation. The Bio-Ergonomics FCE ensures that the evaluations are defensible in court, providing compelling evidence that supports or disputes a claim.
  • Reassurance for the Injured Worker: For you, a functional capacity evaluation delivers a credible, transparent assessment of what activities they can safely perform, minimizing the risk of re-injury by prematurely returning to work without appropriate accommodations. This process plays a vital role in setting realistic expectations and supports your psychological recovery, assuring that your 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 establishing a common understanding of an employee’s functional abilities, it supports align the goals of healthcare providers, employers, and insurance carriers, confirming that all parties are working towards the most effective recovery plan.

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

Axes Physical Therapy’s strategy to functional capacity evaluation is notable by its implementation of the Bio-Ergonomics FCE system, created by Vic Zuccarello in 2005. This procedure is acknowledged as the gold standard for FCE and work rehabilitation in Earth City, MO, and the bi-state region for over 30 years. Vic was viewed as the “go-to” expert by Earth City, MO physicians, case managers, adjusters, and attorneys highly disputed cases and the confidence to present in a deposition or trial. The system applies his experience and an evidence-based protocol to identify test behaviors and to document concisely, thereby enabling the physician to determine maximal medical improvement (MMI).

Axes Physical Therapy prides itself on advocating for effective recovery and safe return-to-work methodologies through meticulous and scientifically-backed functional capacity evaluations. Our procedure not only aids 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 Earth City, MO.

Call Axes For Your Functional Capacity Evaluation in Earth City, MO

At Axes Physical Therapy in Earth City, MO, we are devoted to aiding our clients get back 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 reliable and legally valid but are also deeply rooted in a holistic approach to patient care. We aim to ensure that every patient can safely return to the activities and work they love, with a clear understanding of their capabilities and limitations.

If you or someone you know in Earth City, MO is recuperating 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.

Services Offered

Services Offered
  • Physical Therapy
    • Pre/Post Surgical Rehabilitation
    • Acute Injury Management
    • Chronic Injury Management
  • Work Conditioning/Hardening
  • Functional Capacity Evaluations
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Geriatric Physical Therapy
  • Vestibular Therapy and Post-Concussion Rehabilitation
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (Astym)
  • Spine Specialty – Certified Manual Therapy
  • Free Injury Screenings
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling
  • Kinesio Taping®
  • Video Motion Analysis
  • Blood Flow Restriction Therapy

Our Team

Sara Crain
PT, CEAS, Astym Cert.
Candace Cunningham
Clinic Director, PT, DPT, CMPT
Abigail Alsmeyer
Front Office

Locations

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Injuries and pain shouldn’t keep you from moving and doing the things you love.