RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of time of day and job type on performance of three functional capacity evaluation measures in healthy (asymptomatic) adults. It was queried whether or not a healthy population of adults would demonstrate a change in physical performance ability, when re-tested at the end of their work day. SETTING: A convenience sample of 50 healthy adults (19-62 years, 66% male) was used from six work sites in an urban area. DESIGN: Same day pre-test and post-test testing was performed, implementing use of three commonly used functional capacity tests: Jamar dynamometer grip strength test, Turning sub-test of the Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test, and the 50-foot walk test. METHODS: The study compared morning and afternoon test scores, and using t-tests, assessed the effect of job type (sedentary, light, medium, heavy) on performance using ANOVA. RESULTS: All three measures improved from morning to afternoon; differences were statistically significant for 50-foot walk (mean=0.2 sec, p=0.02) and manual dexterity (mean=5 sec, p< 0.001). Job type had a significant effect on dexterity. CONCLUSIONS: Late day performance did not show any significant decline in this sample of healthy adults, and in fact tended to improve or stay relatively stable. Therefore, clinicians who perform functional capacity evaluations should consider alternative explanations for late-day functional declines observed in injured patients. These findings, combined with other test results, may assist clinicians with disability determination.
