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Orthogate
1089 Spadina Road
Toronto, AL M5N 2M7
Ph: 416-483-2654
Fax: 416-483-2654
christian@orthogate.com






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I've been off work more than six months because of chronic neck and shoulder pain. I work as a grocery store checker, so I have to be able to lift and scan food products. Some of the items (like a gallon of milk or a 12-pack of beer) can be pretty heavy. Other items are light, but I'm picking up and scanning hundreds of things in a single work shift. Worker's comp is now sending me to a therapist for a functional capacity evaluation. Will the test really be an accurate way to test my ability to do the job?

Studies show that workers off the job more than three months have less of a chance at getting back to work compared with those who recover and return-to-work in the first three months after developing a musculoskeletal disorder. The level of pain intensity and constancy are especially predictive of a poor result. In order to avoid disability, a rehab program geared toward a worker's skills needed on the job is often advised. A physical therapist trained in work recovery performs a test to find out the worker's specific weaknesses and work-related needs. A common way to do this is to conduct the test you mentioned -- a functional capacity evaluation (FCE). The FCE is a series of 25 standardized tests designed to test a worker's physical capacity. The therapist compares the job tasks required with the patient's current ability to do that work. Activities such as lifting, bending, and carrying objects are included. Job demands (for your job) are the standard used to rate your actual work ability. Once the pre-treatment test results are in, the therapist uses them to figure out what you will need in a rehab program to get you ready to return to your full job duties. Once you start this process, if you have any doubts about the ability of the program to restore you to your job, let your therapist know. A cooperative patient who is willing to work consistently on a return-to-work program has a better chance of successful re-entry into the job market.

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