Reliability of independent observer judgments of level of lift effort in a kinesiophysical Functional Capacity Evaluation.

Functional Capacity Evaluation includes manual materials handling as a primary component. Return to work decisions are often made or influenced by both the heaviest amount of weight that can be safely lifted and the weight that can be handled repetitiously. Kinesiophysical observational criteria were developed to allow trained judges to categorize lifting in order to identify the category of lift effort. Bothinter rater and intrarater reliability were high. When light or heavy categories were isolated for accuracy there were no errors in judge's ratings.