A functional capacity evaluation is a test of what work-related physical activities a person can safely do.

"Functional" means everyday job tasks, not just a diagnosis on paper. The evaluation looks at abilities such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, walking, bending, reaching, gripping, and tolerating repeated movement. "Capacity" means current ability, not what someone could do before an injury or might do after more treatment. "Evaluation" means a structured assessment, usually performed by a physical or occupational therapist, using observed tasks, measurements, and effort testing to judge whether the person can work at full duty, light duty, or not at all for now.

In practice, this can heavily affect a workers' compensation claim. Employers, insurers, doctors, and lawyers may rely on it when arguing about work restrictions, a return-to-work plan, or whether a worker has reached maximum medical improvement. A strong evaluation may support ongoing wage-loss benefits if it shows real limits. A bad or disputed one may be used to cut benefits or push a worker back into a job too soon.

In Maine, these disputes often end up before the Maine Workers' Compensation Board in Augusta. A functional capacity evaluation is not automatically the final word, but it can become key evidence in a disagreement over disability benefits, suitable work, or whether the worker can safely handle the demands of a job after an injury.