...Stephen L. Demeter, MD, MPH There is an association between obesity and restriction on pulmonary function testing when relying on the forced vital capacity (FVC) as the defining parameter for restriction. Body mass index (BMI) may not be the best measure of obesity, but it is the most commonly used...

... back pain and conclude that current scientific knowledge suggests that imaging alone is not useful in predicting function or in assessing future risk. Degenerative changes on imaging are not a sound basis for work restrictions because they do not correlate with risk or capacity. © 2017 American...

...Margit L. Bleecker, MD, PhD Early return to work is fundamental in the treatment of occupational injuries, but the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ( AMA Guides ) may require temporary or permanent work restrictions. The US Department of Labor Physical Demand Characteristics...

... mechanism can be separated into three stages: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. Disabilities resulting directly from dysphagia may arise secondary to aspiration, and the ongoing risk of aspiration has several consequences: limited oral intake of solid food and liquids, restriction of the diet (eg, to foods...

... with a health condition, disorder, or disease.” In contrast, disability is variously defined by the administrative or legal system with jurisdiction, and the AMA Guides broadly defines disability as “activity limitations and/or participation restrictions in an individual with a health condition, disorder...

...E. Randolph Soo Hoo, MD, MPH; Stephen L. Demeter, MD, MPH Referring agents may ask independent medical evaluators if the examinee can return to work in either a normal or a restricted capacity; similarly, employers may ask external parties to conduct this type of assessment before a hire or after...

... of these diseases; they do not measure the ability of the lungs or heart to provide adequate oxygenation to metabolizing tissues. Static tests of lung function are the norm when diagnosing asbestosis, and the typical abnormalities seen are restriction, some airflow obstruction, and a diminished diffusing capacity...

... with disability, and, as noted in the sixth and previous editions of the AMA Guides, no direct correlation exists between impairment and work restrictions or loss of earning capacity. An impairment rating does not directly equate to a permanent disability rating and does not solely determine compensation. The AMA...

... opinions that the clinical presentation is not valid, work related, or injury related, nor is the patient in need of further treatment. Such a financial conflict of interest can be eliminated only by referral to independent examiners and restricting treating clinicians from becoming involved...

..., not subjective complaints and opinions regarding work restrictions. The AMA Guides also has changed certain tests and minimized others (eg, range of motion and grip, respectively). Study limitations include sample selection and differences between pre-2005 evaluators and the highly proficient experts who used...

... benefits. The latter are restricted to workers who have long-term impairments that are so severe they preclude any type of gainful compensable activity, and the impairment must be medically determinable and expected to last at least a year or result in death. Both SSDI and the Supplemental Security Income...

... been used to diagnose TMD, but the AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, usually bases the diagnosis on dietary restrictions or problems with speech. A table in the article provides a description of disk displacement and joint degeneration; based on symptoms, clinical findings, and imaging results, examiners can...

..., even restrictive rating systems may require the use of Chapter 18 because, according to the AMA Guides, no other available method exists for considering impairment of certain conditions such as postherpetic neuralgias or migraines. As the AMA Guides acknowledges, Chapter 18 seems to allow impairment...

... suggests, and a less restrictive diagnosis of “undifferentiated somatoform disorder” or “pain disorder” would increase the incidence. Finally, further discussions of fibromyalgia should address the excess incidence of abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional) during the early life of these patients. © 2002...

... that cause reduced finger joint ROM, but it frequently underestimates the functional difficulty (impairment) caused by tendon injuries that restrict the excursion of tendons. For this reason, the AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, introduced a second method to rate ROM in fingers, the total active motion (TAM...

... is likely to suffer incapacitation, injury, harm, or further impairment; and whether restrictions or accommodations are warranted. Common errors in this step include determinations of permanency and stability, and raters should be aware that the AMA Guides is used to assess impairment, not disability. Forms...

..., e.g., partial rotator cuff repair. Prompt: “Assuming the role of a highly skilled physician with a focus on occupational medicine and advanced knowledge in AI-driven healthcare analytics, formulate an evidence-based work restriction plan for a 45 year-old carpenter who has recently undergone...

... for a person to do certain activities (activity limitations) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions). 7 The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition, also adopted this definition (6th ed, 5). Globally, the WHO estimates that 15.6...

... by attorneys to undermine the credibility of a physician's testimony, aiming to dismiss or downplay it. Attorneys often pose challenging questions, and physicians may find that opportunities for comprehensive explanations are restricted. Last, it is important to note the contrasting evidentiary standards...

... Restriction Section 4751 Subsequent Injuries Trust Fund (SIBTF) Thresholds Subsequent injury funds (SIFs) provide financial help to persons who have significant pre-existing labor-disabling disability who then suffer a subsequent work injury that causes increased disability. The purpose of the SIFs...