User's Manual

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carry the object. If lifting is selected, the box to include the distance for carrying changes to Measure the
Upper Shelf Height.
Select whether you would like the tests set up for anthropometric values or not. If anthropometric
measurements are selected the option of knee, knuckle, waist, elbow, shoulder, and crown are available
for selecting upper and lower shelf heights. If you do not wish to use anthropometric values click on No
and enter in specific heights in inches.
Confirming Proper Weight use refers to whether you would like the FOCUS load cell to weigh the weight
on the shelf or not. If No is selected the software will check to make sure a weight is applied to the shelf
but will not be able to determine if that is the exact weight required. If Yes is selected the load cell will
determine if the exact weight has been applied to the shelf. The evaluator must ensure that the client
remove their handles from the object being lifted entirely for a couple seconds so the software has the
opportunity to weigh the weight. You may wish to turn this function off if your client has difficulty
understanding instructions. To do this highlight the test from the list on the left hand side of the screen
under Work Sim and click on Edit and change it here.
Next select the starting weight and the increments of weight you will be increasing by for the lifting
protocol. The EPIC Lifting crate provided with the system weighs 10 pounds. If other containers are used
for lifting such as a tool box to measure unilateral lifting or carrying, weight the object first.
Include a rest period if the protocol you are using or if the job task you are simulating requires it. If Pain
Rating is set to Yes, then two boxes will appear on the test screen for the evaluator to enter in pre and
post pain ratings.
Include the repetitions per weight required before additional weight is added to the lifting container.
Include a Maximum Time to Complete Repetitions if the lifting protocol specifies that or if the job task
requires a certain amount of lifts to be completed in a specific time.
Rating of Exertions refers to the revised Borg scale that is used to determine the client’s perception as to
how heavy they feel the weight they are lifting is. It is a 10 point scale that ranges from 0=Like Nothing at
All to 10= Too Heavy. You can the select to Stop Testing Immediately if exertion is  and the various
ratings for the scale are available from the drop down menu available. If this is selected in testing, once
the client has selected the rating equal to or above the limit you selected (i.e. Extremely Heavy), the test
will stop and you will be prompted with a screen asking if you to click Yes to accept the previous safe
weight or No to accept the current weight.
A heart rate cutoff can be set so that you will be warned if the client’s heart is too high. The cut-off can be
set based on a percentage of age (Maximum Age Predicted Maximum Heart Rate = 220-Age). Generally
this is set to 85% based on the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines. If a physician for safety
concerns sets a specific heart rate cut-off, click on Specific Number and enter the value under Heart Rate
Cut-Off. Response to First Heart Rate Cut-Off allows you to set the software parameters if the heart rate
goes above the cut-off values you have selected. You can either have the test stop immediately or select
an appropriate amount of time to allow the heart rate to recover before continuing with the test. Based on
the EPIC Lifting Protocol up to a two minute rest is provided to see if the heart rate will recover.
Select Heart Rate Recovery Time After Completion if you would like the software to measure the heart
rate after the lifting test is completed to make sure the client recovered sufficiently before starting the next
test. If this option is used you must wait for the entire time selected or click on Stop before clicking on
Close or Next Protocol.
A Maximum Protocol Duration time, Maximum Weight to be lifted, or a predetermined Job Demand level
can be programmed into the software so that the test will stop once those parameters are met.