Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment (BTE) is a computerized work simulator machine that duplicates hundreds of “real world” job functions in a clinical setting in order to measure a patient’s loss of function and progress toward rehabilitation. By simulating activities patients perform at work and at home, therapists can determine with precision accuracy a patient’s strength, endurance, power, and range of motion in performing specific tasks, and can devise a therapy program to improve their ability to perform those tasks.

BTE testing is a valuable component in the Functional Capacity Evaluation and its results can help determine a patient’s capacity to perform work tasks safely and efficiently. The trademarked BTE Quest software system produces standardized evaluation reports including four static/isometric tests and seven dynamic/isotonic tests, a daily treatment chart and treatment progress graphs. With its ability to simulate hundreds of “real world” work tasks, BTE can produce an accurate assessment of a patient’s ability to perform tasks in the workplace or at home. BTE is also helpful in diagnosing certain conditions by reproducing symptoms patients experience only when certain tasks are performed.
BTE test results help therapists determine a patient’s starting level of disability, help therapists plan a course of therapy, and measure a patient’s level of rehabilitation following therapy.

Here’s a sample of just a few of the tasks BTE can simulate:

Lifting a box

Turning a knob

Sawing wood

Climbing a ladder

Pushing a broom

Driving a car

Using a crowbar

Operating a drill press

Shoveling dirt

Operating a screwdriver

Turning a crank

Using a paint roller

BTE Therapy
Once a patient’s physical limitations have been identified through proper evaluation and testing, a doctor or therapist may recommend a rehabilitation program that includes the use of BTE. By controlling the machine’s resistance, range of motion and number of revolutions or distance, therapists can gradually increase the difficulty of tasks as a patient progresses toward full rehabilitation. Patients recovering from surgery, illness or accidents can benefit from BTE therapy by improving strength, endurance and range of motion. When used as a component of work hardening. BTE simulates the same kinds of tasks workers perform on the job. By simulating actual tasks, BTE can help condition a worker to perform specific job activities while reducing the likelihood of an on-the-job injury due to lack of conditioning. In cases where a patient’s permanent disability prohibits them from performing specific tasks, BTE can help determine alternate movements that accomplish near the same task and can help condition a patient to perform those movements.

Quantifiable Results

In any therapy program it is important to track a patient’s progress from initial evaluation to discharge. BTE produces computerized color reports that therapists, physicians and patients can use to monitor progress. A few of the available reports include:

Range of Motion


Maximum Effort Graph


Daily Treatment Chart


Progress Chart


Dynamic Lifting Chart