Employment physical tests make sure you can safely perform the job you’re applying for or return to work with confidence, strength, and ease.
We offer a variety of physical tests for employees at Coppola Physical Therapy:
Post Offer Employment Screens
What better way to prevent injures from occurring than by implementing a Post-Offer Screening Program into your hiring process? It is a time-tested, proven method of reducing workplace injuries. Employers have the ability to take control of their workers’ compensation costs, as well as take care of their employees, by applying individualized functional testing.
Some of the additional benefits include:
- A multi-purpose tool with proactive uses for Human Resources, as well as for post-injury by Risk Management and treatment providers
- Baseline documentation for accelerated rehabilitation and return-to-work
- Reduction in lost workdays
- Reduction in turnover
- Reduction in hiring and training costs
- Compliance with ADA and EEOC and federal hiring practices
The Post-Offer Employment Screen can serve as a physical agility test or as a functional musculoskeletal evaluation. If employment is conditional based on the result of a post-offer screen, then legal employment guidelines require that an offer must be made prior to the screen. Additionally, the post-offer screen must be required of all applicants of the job title. If employability is contingent upon test results, then these conditions should be stipulated in written policy.
After meeting legal guidelines, the objective is to match the worker with the job requirements. The Post-Offer Employment Screen will determine if the individual has the required physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of his/her job. Comprehensive medical information is obtained, including a full musculoskeletal exam by a licensed physical therapist – any pre-existing conditions, injuries, restrictions or illnesses are documented.
Each test consists of job-specific tasks which must be performed safely by the candidate. The job-specific tasks are based on a thorough and comprehensive physical demand analysis. Candidates are also monitored and instructed, if necessary, on proper body mechanics and safe lifting techniques throughout the test. As a result, the candidate should have full knowledge of the job tasks and the employer will have full confidence their candidate physically meets the demands of the job.
Functional Capacity Exam (FCE)
Coppola Physical Therapy can help determine if an injured worker is physically ready to go back to work with a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), a scientifically developed, objective process to measure a worker’s physical capabilities and tolerances, Physical Demand Level (PDL).
The FCE provides an objective and measurable description of essential and nonessential physical demands of a specific job. Functional Capacity Exam is to provide appropriate documentation of specific skill sets that one needs to safely perform the job. works closely with employers large and small to assist them in development of these programs. It is important to select the most skilled partner to ensure a successful FCE program. Experienced Physical Therapists & Occupational Therapists, and ergonomists work closely with you to ensure that we meet your needs in program and timeline development, and implementation.
Benefits of Using FCEs
- Determine the level of participation and activity that is right for the worker, providing the highest probability of returning to work without re-injury;
- Answer relevant questions for referral sources;
- Practice hierarchy of safety, reliability, validity, practicality and utility;
- Provide clear, concise, and timely reports specific to a worker’s physical capabilities.
- Assist with claim closure and/or facilitate claim closure.
- Determine placement for category of work an injured worker demonstrates, according to the “Dictionary of Occupational Titles”
- Provide information regarding maximum physical abilities and overall function.
- Analytical measures of physical tolerance requirements to perform the essential and marginal job tasks
- Maximum force requirements
- Positional tolerance
Work Hardening
Work Hardening is an individualized, job-specific rehabilitation program that uses real or simulated work tasks and progressively graded conditioning exercises to help injured workers safely return to their jobs. These therapies are ideal for patients that have already progressed through traditional physical therapy but still lack full function in relation to specific duties required on the job. It aims to help patients regain their biomechanical, cardiovascular, metabolic, neuromuscular and psychosocial functions in conjunction with their work tasks. It includes strengthening and flexibility exercises, cardiovascular conditioning, spine and joint stabilization exercises and job task training (i.e. pushing, pulling, crouching, lifting, bending, sitting, or twisting).