Fundamentals & Core Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real FCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Fundamentals & Core Principles flashcards as text
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate endpoint criterion for stopping a lifting test during an FCE?
Answer: The evaluator observes compensatory movement patterns indicating unsafe mechanics
Observable biomechanical breakdown — such as spinal flexion substituting for hip hinge — signals that the client has reached a safe testing limit.
In FCE reporting, the term 'residual functional capacity' (RFC) refers to:
Answer: The maximum level of work the client can perform despite limitations
RFC describes the client's remaining physical work capacity after accounting for documented functional limitations.
Which standard addresses the ethical obligation of FCE providers to disclose conflicts of interest?
Answer: APTA Code of Ethics / professional practice standards
Professional codes of ethics (e.g., APTA, AOTA) require evaluators to disclose financial or relational conflicts that could bias FCE findings.
Which scenario BEST illustrates a 'ceiling effect' in FCE testing?
Answer: A client lifts the maximum test weight available, but true capacity may be higher
A ceiling effect occurs when the test's maximum level is insufficient to fully characterize a high-functioning client's true lifting ability.
The 'psychophysical' method of FCE endpoint determination relies primarily on:
Answer: The client's own perception of acceptable exertion level
The psychophysical method asks the client to self-regulate effort to a level they perceive as acceptable, drawing on Snook and Ciriello's seminal research.
An FCE evaluator is asked to determine if a client can return to 'medium work.' According to DOL standards, medium work requires the ability to lift up to:
Answer: 50 lbs occasionally with frequent lifting of 25 lbs
DOL defines medium work as lifting no more than 50 lbs occasionally and up to 25 lbs frequently.
Which behavior during an FCE would MOST strongly suggest the client is providing maximal effort?
Answer: Heart rate approaching 85% of age-predicted maximum during heavy tasks
A heart rate near the age-predicted maximum during heavy effort tasks provides physiological evidence that the client is working near true capacity.