The term sports injury, in the broadest sense, refers to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur during sports or exercise. Some sports injuries result from accidents; others are due to poor training practices, improper equipment, lack of conditioning, or insufficient warm-up and stretching.

Although virtually any part of your body can be injured during sports or exercise, the term is usually reserved for injuries that involve the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, bones, and associated tissues like cartilage.

For more information go to: Handout on Sports Injuries

• Aid in pain control
• Instruction of proper lifting and body mechanics
• Ergonomic assessments
• Instruction in injury prevention
• Communication with the employee, physician and employer as appropriate
• Activities that are focused on the patient being able to complete the essential functions of their job and return to work
• Assistance in determining appropriateness for return to work
• Work Hardening for those who need special care in returning to work.

Work Hardening focuses on:

• Simulating work activities
• Increasing endurance for work.

Functional Capacity Evaluations:
Functional capacity evaluations objectively quantify the physical capacity and vocational abilities of workers after they have incurred work-related injuries. FCE's can help determine the ability of injured workers to do their jobs safely by measuring such things as flexibility, strength, endurance and coordination. Functional Capacity Evaluations are performed by licensed physical or occupational therapists at the request of physicians, insurance companies, rehabilitation nurses, or attorneys.

When to request an FCE:

• Client who is nearing the end of a rehabilitation program.
• There is a question as to whether or not the individual can return to a previous job.
• Someone is returning to work, but needs to know what restrictions may be necessary.
• To determine the need for further treatment programs.

Who Should Be Referred for an FCE?

• Individuals who have achieved maximum medical improvement but continue to have issues related to re-injury and return to work.
• Individuals who need quantification of their physical capacities for determination of disability status.
• Individuals who need their function quantified prior to vocational job search and/or return to work
• Individuals who require quantification of their physical function for medical legal reasons.

What can I expect?

The functional capacity evaluation assesses the individual's flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular condition, and body mechanics. An effective FCE determines whether there is a match between the individual's functional capabilities, and the physical demands of work. Typically, an FCE focuses on a job goal rather than on individual aptitudes, interest, and temperaments. The individual's psychosocial behaviors are assessed in relation to appropriate worker traits.

There are two types of FCE:

• Baseline FCE - An objective assessment of the individual's physical abilities to perform a variety of tasks related to the physical demands of work
• Job specific FCE - An evaluation of the individual's physical abilities to function within the parameters of an identified job. The job specific FCE is based on critical physical demands of the essential functions of the job. Work simulation activities are often an integral component of the evaluation.

A physical or occupational therapist trained to administer FCE's will evaluate you. The session lasts between 2 and 6 hours depending on the individual's needs. The process involves filling out pain and function questionnaires and completing physical tasks that have been selected by the evaluator and that will best meet the individual's needs. The FCE evaluator will analyze the data collected from the session to reflect the specific objective information regarding functional work ability in the determination of occupational disability status.

How Can I Get an Appointment?

Case managers, physicians, nurse practitioners, state or local agencies, workers compensation, insurance companies, attorneys, or private payers can obtain a referral for an FCE. Once the referral has been made, an appointment can be scheduled.  Click here for a referral form.