Functional Abilities Evaluations (FAE)

The Functional Abilities Evaluation (FAE) is a systematic way to assess a claimant’s physical capacities and functional abilities. The FAE matches the claimant’s current performance levels to the demands of his/her normal, pre-accident tasks of daily living and employment.

A Functional Evaluator assesses the claimant’s range of motion, strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular condition and body mechanics to determine whether the claimant’s present functional capabilities match the physical demands of their work and/or activities of daily living.

An FAE can be used to make objective and reliable decisions of a claimant’s current condition. A precise data format with built-in crosschecks provides information on the extent of the injury and can reveal less than full effort, if any, with a high degree of reliability.

An FAE may be used to:

• Determine the claimant’s ability to safely return to a full or modified work routine.
• Determine if work restrictions, job modifications, or reasonable accommodations are necessary to prevent further injury. Determine, for compensation purposes, the extent to which impairments or physical disabilities exist, or the degree of physical disability.
• Predict the potential to perform work following acute rehabilitation or a work-hardening/work-conditioning program.
• Help to determine whether or not further treatment is warranted.