My Functional Capacity Evaluation

This week I went to my Functional Capacity Evaluation that was orchestrated by my LTD provider to determine what kind work I might be able to do given my new limitations. I didn't feel bullied but I left feeling beat up for sure. I had to do tasks in spite of the work restrictions made by my doctor. In fact it was like a showcase of all the things I should not be doing. My competitive nature pushed me to prove I can do these things. In the course of the evaluation my pain level started at a 4 and went to a 6 and went to a 7 while home and has stayed at about a 5 since then (its been 7 days now).

For the benefit of any others that may have an arm RSI and have to do a FCE here's a list of the things I did. Almost all of my tasks were administered and monitored by a high tech Occupational Therapy program. First, I verbally gave my work, injury, daily routine, and what-I-do-for-fun histories then this is what I did:
1. strapped a wireless pulse monitor on and took blood pressure
2. Treadmill- power walking! 10 minutes
3-5. Hand Dynamometer for hand strength:

• left then right hand (5 sec each time??), alternating hands 6x for each of all six grip positions
• left to right rapidly 6x for only one position
• left to right (5 sec each time??) 6x, same position

6-9. Pinch Gauge for finger strength:

• key pinch position. alternating right then left hand for 5seconds each 6x
• index finger to thumb pinch position. same as before
• index finger & middle finger to thumb pinch position. same as before

++++++++ these next ones were done on something that looks like a weight gym system but its completely sensored and part of the same computer administered program++++++++++++++

10. Push with all my force one time for 5 seconds
11. Pull ...... one time, 5 seconds.
12. Weighted milk crate (not sure how much it weighed but I would guess 5 lbs) pick it up from a waist level platform and put it on another platform at shoulder height, then back again. 4 times. Repeat after 4x but with a weight added. (couldn't do it myself- if you can, they will keep adding weights til you can't)
13.Weighted milk crate- pick it up from the floor to the waist level platform, then back down. 4 times. Same deal after 4x, with weights. (More added if you can handle it.)
14. Weighted milk crate- pick up from the floor to shoulder level platform 4x. (Then weights added.)
+++++++++ no more exercises using the sensor equipment +++++++++++++
15. Pick weighted crate up from waist level platform and carry it 10 feet away, turn around, out it back down. Repeat 5x.
16. Stand, stoop & kneel + motor skills: moving 6 rows of 2 pegs at a time from a peg board wall starting at the floor- knee height to coordinating slots at knee height to chest height. Repeat 7x. This was timed.
17. 2 step stairs up and down. 24x. timed.
18. Crawl on hands and knees for a minute. (really)
19-22. Fine motor peg board:

• right hand: pick up pegs from dish and put as many in the peg board w/ right hand in 15 seconds (?)
• left hand: same
• both hands: same task at the same time for 15 seconds
• use both hands to assemble as many peg, washer, grommet & washer formations in 15 seconds

23. Writing. Copied an article out of a magazine for 5 minutes.
24. Took blood pressure.
25. DONE!