Reliability of safe maximum lifting determinations of a functional capacity evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) are measurement tools used in predicting readiness to return to work following injury. The interrater and test-retest reliability of determinations of maximal safe lifting during kinesiophysical FCEs were examined in a sample of people who were off work and receiving workers' compensation.


METHODS
Twenty-eight subjects with low back pain who had plateaued with treatment were enrolled. Five occupational therapists, trained and experienced in kinesiophysical methods, conducted testing.


METHODS
A repeated-measures design was used, with raters testing subjects simultaneously, yet independently. Subjects were rated on 2 occasions, separated by 2 to 4 days. Analyses included intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
The ICC values for interrater reliability ranged from.95 to.98. Test-retest values ranged from.78 to.94.


CONCLUSIONS
Inconsistencies in subjects' performance across sessions were the greatest source of FCE measurement variability. Overall, however, test-retest reliability was good and interrater reliability was excellent.
Gross
Douglas P
DP
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, 3-48 Corbett Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G4. dgross@ualberta.ca
Battié
Michele C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014891:Weight Lifting