EpicRehab Function Sorts Overview

Hand Function Sort
Spinal Function Sort

If “one picture is worth a thousand words” what is the value of fifty (or sixty-two) pictures?

It is widely accepted that the disabled person’s perception of dysfunction is an important starting point for functional capacity evaluation. Similarly, it is important to document the evaluee’s report of functional capacity. How do you document

  • An evaluee who reports that he is less capable than he actually is and may be unnecessarily disabled?
  • An evaluee who reports that she is more capable than she actually is and may be at risk of re-injury?

Interview or other means that have been time consuming and not very systematic have been used to collect this information. Additionally, subjective information is difficult to quantify, which prevents dependable documentation of change as the result of treatment as well as comparison to objective test performance.

The Spinal Function Sort and Hand Function Sort were developed by experienced clinicians to address these problems. Now in use in more than 1,000 clinics and hospitals throughout the world, these tests have revolutionized how self-report of functional performance is measured.

Published research studies with the Spinal Function Sort demonstrate that requiring the evaluee to respond to drawings of common tasks paired with simple descriptions is reliable and valid. Now the Hand Function Sort makes this available for persons with upper extremity impairments.

Dr. Vert Mooney has worked with Dr. Leonard Matheson to develop a new computerized version of the Sorts called the Multidimensional Task Ability Profile (MTAP).

Additional reading