Affiliations: Occupational Assessment Center Beatrixoord, The
Netherlands | Department of Movement Sciences, University of
Groningen, The Netherlands | Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University
Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands
Note: [] P.O. Box 30.002, 9750 RA Haren, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 50
5338550; Fax: +31 50 5338550
Abstract: Functional Capacity Evaluation's (FCE's) are designed to measure the
functional capacity of injured workers. Static endurance tests are integrated
aspects of FCE's. Little is known about the validity of the tests. In this
study, three static endurance tests (overhead work, crouching and kneeling) of
the Isernhagen Work Systems FCE are studied for ecological validity. By
manipulating the environment in an experiment using three different conditions
(normal, loud noise, high production requirement), the ecological validity of
the tests was investigated. Results: the different conditions did not seem to
influence the holding times, the perceived exertion and the productivity of the
subjects. The results are discussed and it is concluded that the three static
endurance tests meet conditions of ecological validity. In order to be able to
state that the tests of the IWS FCE are ecologically valid, more research is
needed to enable a generalization.
