Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:reg:54:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 54 (pt 14/36)
Character Range: 111387–114879

2  Establish which joints in the right upper limb, if any, have some restriction of movement as a result of accepted conditions affecting the right upper limb.                                                                                                Page 40
STEP 3  (Omit this step if is there is no restriction of joint movement in the right upper limb.)                                                                                                                                                                   Page 41

        Calculate the functional impairment due to restriction of range of movement of joints in the right upper limb as a result of accepted conditions of the right upper limb.
STEP 4  Calculate the functional impairment rating for the right upper limb as a whole using Table 3.1.2.                                                                                                                                                           Page 43
STEP 5  Compare the functional impairment rating for the right upper limb as a whole with the functional impairment rating from any restricted range of movement. Take the higher of these two as the final functional impairment rating for the right upper limb.  Page 43
STEP 6  Make any applicable age adjustment to the final functional impairment rating for the right upper limb by applying Table 3.6.1 in Part 3.6 of this chapter.                                                                                                  Page 43
STEP 7  Determine if any Other Impairment rating applies to the right upper limb.                                                                                                                                                                                   Page 44
STEP 8  (Omit this step if no Other Impairment rating applies to the right upper limb.)                                                                                                                                                                             Page 45

        Compare the final functional impairment rating for the right upper limb with any Other Impairment rating applicable to the right upper limb. Take the higher of these ratings.

Step 2: Establish which joints in the right upper limb have some restriction of movement as a result of accepted conditions of the right upper limb.

For the purposes of assessment under the Guide, the major joints of the upper limb are the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist.

In addition, the joints of the thumb and fingers are also to be considered. However, only one rating is to be given for the total effect of restrictions in all joints of the thumb and fingers considered together.

Conditions such as painful arc syndrome and fractured neck of radius may affect the range of movement (ROM) of the shoulder. A condition such as fractured scaphoid will be likely to affect the ROM of the wrist. In cases of fractures, the ranges of movements of the joints proximal to and distal to the fracture site should generally be considered as joints the ROM of which may be affected.

Hence, it must be determined which, if any, of

    shoulder;
    elbow;
    wrist; and
    thumb and fingers,

potentially have loss of range of movement due to accepted conditions.

Certain vascular conditions or neurological conditions of the upper limb, such as muscle weakness, tremor, apraxia, and loss of co-ordination, may have an effect on the function