User's Manual

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Functional Range of Motion
The Functional Range of Motion (FROM) pegboard allows an evaluator to determine the positional
tolerances of a client. The FROM system utilizes Methods Time Measurement (MTM), allowing the
evaluator to extrapolate for occasional, frequent or constant demands.
What is Methods Time Measurement?
Methods Time Measurement (MTM) is the industrial engineering-based method for determining
time-motion performance in conjunction with work-related activities. The MTM standard offers
the means to determine an exact percentage score of performance against the most widely
recognized criteria for the assessment of time-motion activities.
The assessment of time-motion is a vital concept to many manufacturing companies throughout the
world. Without the means to assess time-motion on a standardized basis, it would be very difficult for
assembly lines to run effectively. It would also make it likely that the frequency of repetitive stress injuries
would increase significantly, as a specific means to determine whether or not a worker was being
required to perform at a level exceeding their reasonable production would be unavailable, and
guesswork would be the only substitute. The MTM standard score allows an industrial engineer to
effectively design production processes to most effectively complete job demands, while taking into
consideration and minimizing ergonomic risk factors. MTM employs the usage of time-motion units to
calculate the required performance of functional activities. The breakdown of MTM units is as follows:
1 hour = 100,000 tmu’s (time-motion units)
1 minute = 1,667 tmu’s
1 second = 27.8 tmu’s
Is MTM applicable to Functional Testing and the evaluation of individuals with disabilities?
Time-motion activities have been used in association with the evaluation of individuals with disabilities.
The MTM standard score has been the most commonly used time-motion standard to date as it provides
the most accurate and reliable means of evaluating performance. Other functional evaluation systems
that have employed the MTM standard include WEST, VALPAR, ERGOS and Lifestyle Enhancement
Systems. With respect to the evaluation of individuals with disabilities, several papers have been
published throughout the world by international associations of industrial/time-motion engineers. A copy
of some of these papers has been included with this manual.
How is MTM used in Functional Testing?
In functional capacity evaluations, the MTM standard score allows the evaluator to determine the extent
of a test subject’s capacity for positional tolerances, and determine a specific productivity equivalency for
the positional tolerance. Conventional positional tolerance protocols employed without a time-motion
equivalency fail to take into consideration the fact that individuals must demonstrate functionality within
the prescribed posture. For example, a test that asks the individual to reach overhead without the
performance of a work-related activity will not be able to discern whether or not the individual is capable
of performing gross manual or fine finger dexterity activities, elements crucial to overhead work. The
question is not whether the individual can reach overhead, but rather if the individual is capable of
performing functional activities in an overhead position. MTM also employs time-motion units to produce
a standardized and reproducible method for performance of the function making the precise repetition of
the function’s performance and instructions very important. Variations in the performance of the function
can have an impact upon the test subject’s results. In tests employing the MTM standard score, a
deviation in performance will usually lower the competitive level score of the test subject. The level of