Functional capacity evaluation of manual materials handlers: a review.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize currently existing research regarding the assessment of functional capacity in low back injured workers.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Methods of functional capacity evaluation are described and critical components of an examination of functional capacity identified in relationship to federal occupational categorization and guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of the predictive validity of existing functional capacity evaluation templates is not possible given the absence of thorough descriptions in the published literature. While substantial research exists enabling comparison of the injured workers' manual materials handling ability to normative psychophysical data the validity of this approach remains uncertain.
Jones
T
T
Ergonomics Research Laboratory, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta, Canada. tkjones@ualberta.ca
Kumar
S
S
D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009790:Occupations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation