Test-retest reliability of the GAPP functional capacity evaluation in healthy adults

Background. Functional capacity evaluations are commonly used in work rehabilitation practice to assess a person's capacity to perform work-related activities. Purpose. This study examined the test-retest reliability of participants' performance and administrator ratings using the Gibson Approach to Functional Capacity Evaluation (GAPP FCE). Methods. Forty-eight healthy adults were evaluated twice on 12 recommended core items of the GAPP FCE and rated for overall performance. Findings. The ICCs and 95% CIs for the Physical Level of Work and Alternative Physical Level of Work Ratings were 0.93 (0.87-0.96) and 0.86 (0.72-0.93) respectively. The ICCs for the core item-level ratings ranged from 0.15 to 0.94, and the ICCs for the actual loads handled in the manual handling items ranged from 0.88 to 0.95. Implications. The stability of an overall physical level of work rating shows potential for use in functional capacity evaluation practice and research. Further research is needed to investigate other measurement properties of the GAPP FCE using populations with injury or disability.