What is the difference between Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) and a Functional Abilities Evaluation (FAE)?

Generally speaking the terms FAE and FCE are interchangable. Both are in common use depending on your geographic location. A referral source will request either when interested in determining if a client is ready to return normal activities. We even see Funcional Ability Evaluation and Functional Abilities Evaluation being used.

Above said, what is the differnce between capacity and ability?

Functional capacity: Is the potential that a client has and refers to concepts such as strength, flexibility, and endurance. Functional capacity is extrapolated based on current ability, past capacity and medical impairments. Functional capacity indicates that the individual is already maximally trained and fully acclimated to the job or activity in question. A worker accustomed to a heavy construction labor job may function at near “capacity”. Examples of lack of capacity are the individual with a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder who can not raise his arm high enough to reach overhead controls of a factory press. In an evaluation we use the physical demands analysis as a  measure of capacity. For example if the client's job required lifting from floor to waist of 20 lbs, we know the client had the capacity to lift 20 lbs. Functional capacity is a useful concept for return to work when a client's ability has decreased with inacitivity but performance of the activity will not create a risk of harm. Expanding on the above example: if the client's current functional ability is only 10 lbs but lifting from floor to waist does not create a risk of harm it may be appropriate to start a gradual return to work program.

Current functional ability: Is what the client can currently perform. Functional ability is what is measured in an evaluation. Functional ability can increase with exercise and activity, or it can decrease with inactivity. Current functional ability may increase up to functional capacity with exercise. This exercise may be rehabilitative exercise.

Functional limitation: Is a very useful term in the evaluation. Where current ability is a "snapshot" of a day in time and capacity is an extrapolation, limitation can be an objectively supported opinion. For example: In my opinion the client did not demonstrate a functional limitation to lift 20 lbs. Although the client only lifted 10 lbs in the evaluation, a file review revealed no current medical restrictions or risk of harm to the client for lifting, it was determined the client could perform more than demonstrated, they had no range of motion limitations and were able to isometrically lift 25 lbs.

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