Cross Reference Testing for Functional Capacity Evaluations in Workers Comp Claims

What is Cross-Reference Testing? Cross-reference testing  consists of a family of tools for use in physical therapy, industrial rehabilitation and athletic training facilities and may be useful in evaluating workers out on workers' compensation to assess their readiness to return to a transitional duty assignment or full duty employment. How Does It Work? The repeated measures  is one of the most basic tenets of science.  During testing, experienced claimants are often able to successfully reproduce various physical measurements (hand strength or lifting, for example) not actually reflecting their "best effort."  The result may very well be inflated case management costs. To combat   this testing "flaw" using "distraction-based testing" whereby activities are repeated in non-obvious ways proves helpful in objectively classifying a valid effort. In the past 20 years,  at least 25 published studies show the most commonly used indices of effort (coefficient of variation, bell curve and rapid exchange grip testing) are inaccurate in classifying effort during hand strength assessment.  In fact, these methods fail to detect feigned weakness approximately 30% of the time. A more accurate  result is reached using a hand strength assessment using the standard Jamar force gauges in a repeated measures protocol where the distraction in the  protocol is the inclusion of trials involving  simultaneous testing of both hands. (workersxzcompxzkit) In a large controlled study, classification of effort was 99.5% (199 proper classifications in 200 tests). For the past 25 years,  the "state of the art" for assessing effort during a lifting assessment is the "visual estimation of effort," a practice opening the door to unnecessary litigation.  To overcome this problem a Lever Arm is used in a repeated measures protocol. The claimant's demonstrated physical maxima using unmarked steel bars are compared to the same lifts performed on a simple lever arm system.  Persons attempting guess the actual workloads have a very low probability of controlling the outcome of the test.  The result is a report providing comparisons of actual physical measurements rather than firmly-help opinion of the test administrator. Author:   Darrell Schapmire, MS of X-RTS Software Products & Testing Devices develops distraction-based tests for use in functional capacity evaluations.  He can be reached at dschapmire@yahoo.com.  Web:  http://www.xrts.com/. Click on these links to try it for yourself. WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs. ©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@WorkersCompKit.com