The reliability of determining effort level of lifting and carrying in a functional capacity evaluation.

Objectives: To establish inter- and intra-rater reliability of observations in a functional capacity evaluation.

Background: Functional capacity evaluations are used to assess a person's functional capacity as it relates to work. Lifting and carrying are important aspects of a functional capacity evaluation. An evaluator determines the patient's levels of effort through standardized observations. Questions remain with regards to the reliability of these observations.

Methods: Four healthy subjects were videotaped while performing two lifts and four carries with progressive loads. The videotape was scrambled randomly and viewed twice by 3 physical therapists and 2 occupational therapists. The evaluators determined the amount of effort it required (light, medium, heavy, and maximum). The inter- and intra-rater reliability of the observations was expressed by means of percentage agreement.

Results: Inter-rater reliability ranged 87-96%, intra-rater reliability ranged 93-97%.

Conclusion: The results indicate that by means of standardized observations, therapists can reliably determine effort level during lifting and carrying in healthy subjects, and thus affirm the findings of other studies of similar design.