Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Orthopedic injuries represent one of the leading contributors to prolonged work disability and reduced productivity across global labor sectors. Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is widely used to determine an individual’s physical readiness to resume work; however, the predictive effectiveness of conventional generic FCE batteries remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a task-specific Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), designed around the actual biomechanical and functional demands of workers’ jobs, in predicting safe return-to-work (RTW) following orthopedic injuries. A prospective cohort of 120 workers with upper- and lower-limb orthopedic injuries underwent structured task-specific Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), and outcomes were compared with RTW status at 12-week follow-up. Statistical analyses included descriptive comparison, logistic regression, ROC curve analysis, and predictive accuracy comparison with conventional FCE. Results revealed that participants who achieved higher scores in task-specific Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) components were significantly more likely to achieve safe RTW, demonstrating an 84% predictive accuracy compared to 62% with traditional FCE. These findings highlight the stronger functional relevance of job-matched assessment over generic physical testing. Task-specific FCE can serve as a more reliable tool to inform rehabilitation planning, job modification decisions, and occupational safety protocols. Future clinical guidelines should consider integrating task-specific evaluations to enhance the precision of RTW forecasting and reduce re-injury risk.