Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether functional capacity evaluation (FCE) tests
predict future work capacity (WC) of patients with whiplash-associated disorders
(WADs) grades I and II who did not regain full WC 6 to 12 weeks after injury.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS:
Workers (N=267) listed on workers' compensation with grade I or II WADs 6 to 12
weeks after injury. INTERVENTIONS: Patients performed 8 work-related FCE tests.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: WC (0-100%) measured at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12
months after testing. Correlation coefficients between FCE tests and WC were
calculated. A linear mixed-model analysis was used to assess the association
between FCE and future WC. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD WC increased over time from
20.8%+/-27.6% at baseline to 32.3%+/-38.4%, 51.3%+/-42.8%, 65.6%+/-42.2%, and
83.2%+/-35.0% at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively.
Correlation coefficients between FCE tests and WC ranged from r=.06 (lifting low
at 12-mo follow-up) to r=.39 (walking speed at 3mo). Strength of the correlations
decreased over time. FCE tests did not predict WC at follow-up. The predictors of
WC were ln (time) (beta=23.74), mother language (beta=5.49), WC at baseline
(beta=1.01), and self-reported disability (beta=-.20). Two interaction terms, ln
(time) x WC (beta=-.19) and ln (time) x self-reported disability (beta=-.21),
were significant predictors of WC. CONCLUSIONS: FCE tests performed within 6 to
12 weeks after WADs injury grades I and II are associated with WC at baseline but
do not predict future WC, whereas time course, mother language, WC at baseline,
and self-reported disability do predict future WC. Additionally, the interaction
between time course WC at baseline and self-reported disability predicted future
WC.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS