Abstract
Purpose: This work generates a comprehensive description of upper extremity and torso kinematics of a healthy population during reaching and dexterity Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) tasks. Methods: Upper limb and torso kinematic data were collected from 30 young, healthy participants as they performed three common FCE tasks: repetitive reaching, fingertip dexterity, and hand and forearm dexterity. Kinematic profiles were created for all clinically relevant angles of the torso, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Results: These provocative tasks require large ranges of motion and create high demand postures for the upper limb, specifically at the shoulder. Arm elevation was up to 90°, while humeral internal rotation of 25° was observed. Torso angles were typically below 30° from neutral and elbow flexion remained within 90°–120° for nearly all tasks. Wrist ulnar deviation ranged from 0° to 26° for both wrists. Conclusion: The normative data created in this investigation provide a description of healthy motion during reaching and dexterity tasks. These normative curves are the initial step towards understanding movement that would contraindicate return to work during an FCE. This work supports a future clinical goal of being able to identify persons at risk of further injury or disability if returned to work too early.
Highlights
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) are objective, standardized batteries of physical performance and functional measures that are used to establish the ability to perform work-related tasks (King et al 1998; Gross & Battié 2003)
There are several types of tasks involved in the WorkWell System (WWS) that can be used to evaluate a wide range of work-related injuries, including a lifting evaluation with specific parameters, dexterity tasks or ambulation tasks (Isernhagen 1992), and normative capacity values exist for comparison of capacity outcomes (Soer et al 2009)
Participants were excluded if they reported any upper extremity or back pain during functional tasks or any injuries to the upper extremities or back in the last six months
Summary
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) are objective, standardized batteries of physical performance and functional measures that are used to establish the ability to perform work-related tasks (King et al 1998; Gross & Battié 2003). There are several types of tasks involved in the WWS that can be used to evaluate a wide range of work-related injuries, including a lifting evaluation with specific parameters, dexterity tasks or ambulation tasks (Isernhagen 1992), and normative capacity values exist for comparison of capacity outcomes (Soer et al 2009). This system has comparatively low equipment requirements, allowing for evaluations that are more directly relatable to the workplace. The WWS has been demonstrated to have good reliability and construct validity (Hart 1988; Reneman et al 2002; Reneman, Fokkens, et al 2005; Brouwer et al 2003; Gross & Battié 2003), with one review reporting the WWS to have the highest reliability and predictive validity among different commercially available FCE systems (Gouttebarge et al 2004)
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