Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Work Capacity Evaluation”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Design-oriented functional capacity evaluation: the available motions inventory--a review.

The accommodation of a task to the unique abilities of an individual with a disability is becoming increasingly the responsibility of the employer. Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) provides the information necessary for rational design decisions when modifying work stations. The currently used FCE systems have been designed to assess an individual's performance for a range of reasons other than industrial task accommodation. The Available Motions Inventory (AMI) is a system that has been developed specifically to address the design issues raised when accommodating an industrial task to a person with a neuromuscular impairment. This system has a unique scoring system that allows intra-individual ability comparisons that support task allocation decisions. Some general principles of task design are developed for persons with cerebral palsy, but the strength of assessment lies in its application to a specific individual performing a specific task.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Long-term follow-up and prognosis of work capacity in the early stage of chronic polyarthritis].

OBJECTIVES: Work disability (WD) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been extensively evaluated in Germany. Therefore, the occurrence of WD pension within the first seven years of RA and prognostic indicators of the first year including the duration of sick leave (SL) were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Within the first year of RA according to the ACR 1987 criteria, 141 gainfully employed patients were entered into a prospective multicenter study (61% females, mean age 47 +/- 9 years, mean disease duration 6 +/- 3.5 months). One hundred and ten patients (78%) participated in a reevaluation (postal questionnaire) after a mean follow-up of 6.1 +/- 0.4 years. Predictors of WD pension were identified in univariate analyses and in backward multivariate Cox regression analyses (p < 0.05) with Hazard-ratios [H-R] as measures of WD risk. RESULTS: Of 110 patients 53 (48%) were still employed at reexamination. WD due to RA occurred in 5% after one year disease duration, in 15% after 2 years, in 20% after 3 years, and in 28% after 6.5 years. Other reasons for leaving the labor force were found in 24%. High pain intensity, radiographic erosions, comorbidity and the pain behavior of avoidance were associated with WD only in univariate analyses. Age > 45 years [H-R 6.3] and the following job-related prognostic indicators were identified in the multivariate analyses: working under pressure of time [H-R 9.0], limited joint motion interferring with job tasks [H-R 5.9], feeling overworked [H-R 3.8] and work status (unskilled blue-collar workers vs white-collar professionals and self-employed persons) [H-R 3.4]. In an alternative final Cox-regression model the variables feeling overworked and work status were replaced by SL duration > 8 weeks within the first year of RA [H-R 7.1]. CONCLUSIONS: Since WD frequently occurs already within the first 3 years (20%) adequate interventions resulting from the prognostic indicators have to begin early in the course of RA. Apart from the rheumatological treatment and rehabilitation focusing on the reduction of pain, improved coping with pain, reduced joint destruction and improved mobility particularly working under pressure of time should be avoided and the work place has to be adjusted in case of limited joint motion interferring with job tasks. SL of several weeks duration already within the first year of RA is a red flag for impending WD.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Matching FCE activities and work demands: an explorative study.

OBJECTIVES: to explore to what extent the standardized Isernhagen Work Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation (IWS FCE) can be matched with observed work demands in workers with chronic low back pain, and, secondly, to explore whether this match can predict sick leave in the year after rehabilitation treatment. METHODS: An explorative prognostic cohort study with a one-year follow-up (four, eight and twelve months after baseline) was performed (n = 18). Demographics, back complaints and FCE performance were assessed at baseline. In addition, a workplace assessment (WPA) was performed. Eleven FCE activities were matched with work demands. Sick leave associated with low back pain and physical and psychosocial work demands were assessed during follow-up. RESULTS: Seven activities could be directly matched with WPA data. (Carrying, pushing, pulling, crouching, kneeling, static forward bending, and dynamic bending and rotating.) For some workers, difficulties existed in matching three of the activities (pushing, pulling and crouching). One activity (lifting) could indirectly be matched with WPA data. One activity (walking) could not be matched with WPA data. Two activities (sitting, standing) were excluded from analyses due to practical limitations. No relation was found between FCE performance, work demands, and sick leave during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Seven FCE activities could be directly matched with work demands. However, not all observed work demands could be matched with IWS FCE activities in the eighteen occupations studied. This quantitative and standardized way of assessing work-related disability is not sufficient to predict work ability and sick leave at the present time.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lognormal distribution in physical work capacity in young healthy males.

This paper evaluates the statistical distribution of physical work capacity (Vo2 max) in young healthy males. For this purpose, the normally of Vo2 max data, collected on two random samples consisting of 123 and 120 young healthy male volunteers was tested. It is concluded that physical work capacity follows lognormal distribution and the quality of fit has been found to be good as tested by chi2 test.

Disability Evaluation↗
PubMed1987

[Medical-work capacity examination of patients with chronic empyema of the pleura after pulmonectomy].

Treatment and analysis of immediate results were described in 269 patients with chronic empyema of the pleura as well as their long-term results in 207 of them. Under consideration were main criteria of the examination of labor capacity in such patients. It was shown that the establishment of the phase of "compensation at the limit" (IIa degree of pulmonary insufficiency) and subcompensation (IIb degree of pulmonary insufficiency) allowed more exact evaluation of the degree of compensatory processes of respiratory organs in patients after operation and the degree of loss of their working capacity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Factors limiting exercise performance in progressive systemic sclerosis.

In order to evaluate to which extent various organs limit physical performance in PSS, maximal working capacity was studied in 22 patients. Special attention was given to cardiac and pulmonary function, joint mobility, and muscular strength. A model for scoring these parameters is given. Working capacity was on the average 51% of the predicted normal value. Ventilation at maximal workload was high despite normal arterial blood gases and presumably normal physiologic dead space. This can be explained by an increased demand on ventilation from an increased muscle metabolism. This may be due to impeded mobility of respiratory and locomotive organs. The maximal heart rate was low and patients with low physical capacity had only a small decrease in base excess. One third of the patients developed arrhythmia during exercise, which contributed to a low performance. Other myocardial involvement was common, seen in the Q-waves, low voltage, left axis deviation, and increased heart volume. In PSS, these ECG changes probably reflect myocardial fibrosis that has developed without clinically manifest infarction. Special attention must be given to arrhythmias at work, which are overlooked in a resting ECG. Ventricular tachycardia plays an important role in sudden death, which, when it occurs, almost always does so within the first years after the onset of PSS. There was no close linkage between cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis or joint-muscle impairment. The scoring system showed an equal distribution in reduction of working capacity as to circulation, pulmonary function, and locomotive function.+2

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Vocational assessment of diarrhea, incontinence and stoma].

The assessment of capability of work consist of measuring the patient subjective willingness to perform and his efficiency which should be objectively examined by functional diagnostic tools. On the one hand, there is the consideration of the patients psycho-mental burdens and on the other hand has to be defined the extent of organic functional restrictions. The latter is difficult to assess because diseased organs of the gastrointestinal tract are not directly involved in the efficiency of work. In chronic diarrhea purely watery diarrhea causes mobility restrictions at the place of work. In case of chronic malabsortive diarrhea, psycho-mental and physical deficits of efficiency have to be taken into account. The latter however may be almost restored by adequate substitution of macro and micro nutrients. For the clinical assessment of the severity of incontinence and ist psychosocial effects structured history sheets and working up of clinical findings and specifics function tests are necessary. The so defined degree of stool incontinence determines the restrictions of vocational efficiency. Generally persons with stoma are nearly not disabled and capable of gainful employment. This also pertains to professions with specific hygienic requirements, such as a production and distribution of foods. Persons with well applied and provided stomata should avoid severe physical burdens, unsuitable postures and periodical forms of labour like piece-work.

Colostomy↗
PubMed1975

Vocational diagnosis through assessment of functional limitations.

Diagnosis in rehabilitation counseling requires a relatively precise delineation of client assets and liabilities. This is essential in establishing direction for counseling efforts; it can also aid in evaluating counseling effectiveness by providing a means of grouping cases according to difficulty or types of problems. This paper identifies the disadvantages of present systems of medical and psychiatric diagnoses for these vocational counseling purposes. It discusses some of the methodological issues involved in establishing a new system for recording client problems. The paper also introduces a brief, yet comprehensive inventory of functional limitations which has been developed in the Counseling Psychology Service of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Minnesota.

Disability Evaluation↗