miller Health Occupational Health and Fitness

Index

9. TSAML SEPTEMBER 29TH 2008

John Miller conducted a Health Management program for The Group in August 2009.

10 men completed the following profiles: -

■ Health, Fitness and Wellbeing

■ Musculo-skeletal risk

■ Stress risk

■ Career satisfaction

The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.

Click here to read what the assessments are all about

HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING PROFILE

The Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile provides people with a very good idea of how well the various systems of the body are functioning, particularly the

• the mind

• autonomic nervous system

• immune system

• digestive system

• circulatory system

• elimination system

• musculo-skeletal system.

	Symptom	None		Not much			A fair bit			A lot
1.	Headaches including migraines	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2.	Lack of energy and vitality	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
3.	Candida - jock itch, thrush, tinea ...	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
4.	Poor sleep. If on tablets score 10	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
5.	Snoring &/or sleep apnoea. Score 10 if using a mask	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
6.	Crook back, stiff neck, sore shoulders, dicky knee RSI ...	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
7.	Frequent colds, flu, sinus	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
8.	Unsettled stomach, reflux (Score 10 if on medication)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
9.	Overweight - 1 point for every 2Kg	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
10.	Irritable bowel, constipation	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11.	Asthma	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
12.	Low level of aerobic fitness	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
13.	Chest pain, palpitations	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
14.	Rashes, itchiness, skin outbreaks, psoriasis ...	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
15.	Mouth ulcers, cold sores	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
16.	Elevated blood pressure. Score 0 on pills	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
17.	Elevated blood cholesterol. Score o if on pills	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
18.	Elevated blood glucose. Score 0 if on medication	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
19.	Shakes, nervous ticks, mannerisms	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
20.	Grinding teeth	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
21.	Alcoholic drinks per day (2 pts/drink)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
22.	Smoking. (1 pt/cigarette/day)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
23.	Caffeine (1 pt/cup per day)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
24.	Anxious about life, insecure, apprehensive	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
25.	Sad or depressed (On medication, score 0)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
26.	In wrong job for now	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
27.	Under-appreciated at work	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
28.	Have poor work/life balance	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
29.	Unhappy with family life	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
30.	Unhappy with financial status	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

Score

The score of a normal, fit and healthy human being is less than 20

Higher scores are symptomatic of dysfunction of one or more body systems.

People with high levels of stress usually score well over 100.

For people with a score of more than 80, the ‘background noise’ of their life is becoming louder and louder. It is hard to concentrate on your work when body systems are dysfunctional.

We know a fit and healthy group when we see the majority of scores below 40. This was not the case with this group. By and large higher scores are usually a reflection of

• low levels of fitness

• an inability to deal with what life and work are serving up to people.

Remember, it is not what happens, but how we deal with what happens that determines our level of stress.

Classification of average scores: Excellent - less than 40. Good - 41 - 50. Fair 51-60. Poor - over 60.

This profile is described as poor. The average score was 87. Anyone scoring more than 80 is putting up with a lot of 'background noise'. This is not a healthy group.

HEALTH CLIMATE SURVEY

Based on scores received in the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile we've compiled a Health Climate Survey. Scores on each item have ranked - the higher the score the worse the problem. We added the scores for each item. The results appear in the table below.

	Symptoms/ issues / concerns	% of people scoring over 5
	Excessive use of alcohol	80
	Smoking	80
	Crook back, sore shoulders	70
	Overweight	70
	Excessive caffeine intake	60
	Reflux, unsettled stomach	50
	Low level of fitness	50
	Anxious	50
	Frequent colds, flu, sinus	40
	Financial status	40
	Work-life balance	30
	Snoring, sleep apnoea	20
	Irritable bowel, constipation etc	20
	Elevated blood pressure	20
	Elevated glucose	20
	Grinding teeth	20
	Poor sleep	10
	Shortness of breath from asthma	10
	Chest pain, palpitations	10
	Itchy, rashes, psoriasis	10
	Mouth ulcers	10
	Elevated cholesterol	10
	Shakes, nervous mannerisms	10
	Depressed	10
	Wrong job	10
	Under appreciated at work	10
	Unhappy family life	10
	Headaches	0
	Lack of Energy	0
	Furry tongue, thrush, tinea,	0

We registered those scores of 5 and over as being a symptom, issue or concern, the most pressing of which have been highlighted.

Perception

Based on people's perception (where they gave a particular symptom a score of 5 or more, and backed up by objective scores) the key issues are

	Alcohol intake was extra-ordinarily high. We haven't seen a score like this before.

	Smoking There were 8 confirmed smokers out of a group of 10 people. This is the highest percentage we have ever seen. Now lets move heaven and earth to assist these people to give it away altogether.

	Musculo-skeletal dysfunction 70% of people said they had some sort of musculo-skeletal dysfunction. This is an inordinately high percentage. There is an urgent need to implement a daily 10 minute strength and stretch program, and a general strength conditioning program twice a week before work. Musculo-skeletal dysfunction goes with low levels of strength and flexibility. Those are greatest risk need encouragement to attend a strength and flexibility training program several times a week. The organisation's workers compensation arrangements are at grave risk, though I suspect it is in the nature of these people to put up with the pain and not want to go out on compo.

	Obesity 70% of people said they were more than 10Kg over weight. It's a symptom of metabolic dysfunction and relates to high energy diets and low energy lifestyles. It's suggestive of elevated levels of insulin floating around the body, which is a precursor of all manner of body system dysfunctions - elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood glucose. The recommendation, that people need to get more exercise (at lunch time) and eat from the top of the Hourglass.

	Caffeine intake was high - through coffee and Coca Cola.

	Reflux and digestive complaints 50% of people complained of digestive complaints - due, I suspect to a diet that's high in fat, flour, sugar, carbonated beverages and alcohol.

	Fitness 50% said they were unfit. We recommend staff be given the greatest encouragement to get in some physical activity before work. Fitness has a significant bearing on the scores for low levels of energy, poor sleep, snoring, depression and headaches.

	Anxiety There is a high level of anxiety in this group. In other groups we survey this anxiety is frequently diagnosed as depression. I'm not in the position to say whether these people are depressed or not, but the high level of alcohol intake and that fact that people said they were anxious is suggestive of the need for these people to embark on some serious personal development training. Anxiety is the difference between what you're getting and what you want. The scores on this item suggest that these people are a long way from getting what they want.

	Colds and flu Symptom of a depressed immune system, one which can be strengthened by eating from the top of the Hourglass and getting plenty of aerobic exercise.

	Financial status 40% of people indicated they were concerned about their financial status. It's no wonder. I suspect they are not highly paid in the grand scheme of things, prices in the town where they liove are high, and they spend a fortune on alcohol and cigarettes. The group needs some financial planning advice - as part of the personal development program.

•	Under-appreciation at work Only 1 person said they were under-appreciated at work. This is an exceptionally good reault.

•	Being in the wrong job Only person said they were in the wrong job. There is usually a high and positive correlation between people being in the wrong job and people saying they are under-appreciated at work. This is the case in this survey and as I report in the Career Satisfaction section this is a group with the highest level of job satisfaction I have ever seen.

FITNESS

The fitness profile is comprised of a mix of 10 objective and subjective assessments.

• Are you keeping yourself fit and healthy to the best of your ability?

• What was your score on the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile?

• Are you about your ideal weight?

• Aerobic fitness test

• Abdominal strength test

• Upper body strength test

• Flexibility test

• Mobility test

• Aerobic activity training behaviour

• Level of energy and vitality.

A reasonable score is over 70%.

Those receiving less than 70 are not training with sufficient vigour or intensity on a regular and systematic basis to keep themselves fit and healthy.


As a group this is a poor profile. Most people confess to not keeping themselves fit and healthy.		As a group, the health, fitness and wellbeing profile scores were poor.

Patchy. 80% of people were more than 10kg over weight.		About half the participants had either a low level of leg strength or had crook knees.

Patchy.		Not bad

A mediocre result. Tight muscles draw the body out of alignment.		Three people had great difficulty getting down onto the floor and back up again.

A poor result, for men who once were warriors!		Patchy. If you're not fit, you can expect to have low levels of energy and vitality.

As a group overall fitness - aerobic, strength and flexibility is not good.

Overall the fitness scores was 51. These people are not in great shape.

CAREER SATISFACTION PROFILE

The parameters in the profile relate to a mix of factors influences by the participant, management and their colleagues.

• How close are you to doing the job you’d really like to be doing?

• Are you in the right job for now?

• Is work giving you life or sucking life out of you?

• Are you focused on your career options?

• Do you get good feedback from your manager?

• Do you receive an appropriate financial reward?

• Do you feel you and your work are valued and appreciated?

• Do you work for an organisation that cares about people?

• Do you enjoy the company of the people you work with?

• What’s the level of morale like in your work group?

Normally, when results on the overall career profile are less than 70/100, people agree that they’re not in the right job. Certainly those scoring less than 60 have sufficient issues relating to career management as to seriously consider going somewhere else.

SCORING GUIDELINES

Excellent, scoring 8 or more

Good, scoring 7 or more

Fair, scoring 5 or 6

Poor, scoring less than 5

‘Pass mark’ on all parameters 7/10.


	With 1 exception this is an excellent score.	This is an excellent result.

	A very good result, with only 1 exception.	A very good result.

	With the exception of a couple of hiccups, another very good score.	With a few exceptions, these people are pretty satisfied with what they sell themselves for.

	A bit patchy, but mostly good.	With a couple of exceptions, this is a pretty good score. The aim is to have all staff recording a score of 7 or more.

	We rarely see scores like this.	This is an excellent morale score. It's generally the case that our morale is good when my morale is good. The exceptions need to be dealt with.

Average score: 88. This is the best result I've ever seen.

The Buddha and Confucius both said 'Find the job you'd love to do and you don't have to do another days work in your life.'

RECOMMENDATIONS

See the generic list of recommendations that cover all our profiles.