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A Shortened Upper Extremity Functional Capacity Evaluation for Patients with Complaints of Hand, Wrist, Forearm, and

Redmar J Berduszek¹, Rienk Dekker², Corry K van der Sluis²

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.j.berduszek@umcg.nl.

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

|May 19, 2025

Abstract

Purpose:

Upper extremity functional capacity evaluation (UE-FCE) contains tests covering aspects of upper extremity functioning. UE-FCE tests usually consist of multiple repeated trials. Shortened UE-FCEs with less trials per test have been proposed but never tested in patients. The aims of this study were (1) to compose a shortened UE-FCE (fewer trials per test) and (2) to assess construct validity and test-retest reliability when applied in patients with nontraumatic musculoskeletal complaints of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow.

Methods:

Participants performed a UE-FCE, with original full-length tests, twice (1 to 3 weeks apart). A shortened UE-FCE, with fewer trials per test, was composed based on the agreement (ICC ≥ 0.90) between shortened and original UE-FCE tests. Consequently, construct validity and test-retest reliability of the shortened UE-FCE tests were assessed.

Results:

UE-FCEs were performed by 45 participants. The proposed shortened UE-FCE included one-trial tests for hand grip and finger strength (instead of three-trial tests), two-trial tests for fingertip and hand/forearm dexterity (instead of three-trial and four-trial tests, respectively). Overhead lifting and working tests were already one-trial tests and remain unchanged. Construct validity was demonstrated for hand grip strength of the left hand, overhead lifting, and overhead working, but not for hand grip strength of the right hand, finger strength, fingertip dexterity and hand and forearm dexterity. Test-retest reliability was above 0.70 for all tests, except for fingertip dexterity of the dominant hand (0.59).

Conclusion:

The shortened UE-FCE with fewer trials per test agreed strongly with the original UE-FCE. Using the shortened UE-FCE could save 18 min. Construct validity differed per UE-FCE test. Test-retest reliability was sufficient for all UE-FCE tests except fingertip dexterity of the dominant hand.

Keywords:

Disability Functional capacity evaluation Rehabilitation Upper extremity

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