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Health Fitness and Wellbeing Seminar Results

 

 

31. The Pies - June 2014

 

John Miller conducted the Global Back Care Musculo-skeletal Health Seminar for The Group in February 2014 and in June 2014.

 

Participants completed two profiles:

 

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile.

 

-  Musculo-skeletal Risk profile.

 

The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.

 

This report contains the cumulative results of both those sessions for the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile, the results being based on the scores of the 115 people, 107 men and 9 women.

 

In June 2014 we changed the Musculo-skeletal Risk profile - eliminating the strength and flexibility training questions and adding two more flexibility tests. The reason for this was because hardly anyone has a strength and flexibility training program. We don't have to keep asking those questions.

 

The Musculo-skeletal risk graphs in this report have been compiled from the results of 23 people.

 

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.

 

On this profile a good score is a low score.

 

 

 

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 low levels of fitness and 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. Reasonable 51-60. Poor - over 60.

 

This profile is described as poor, but definitely nowhere as poor as many of the groups we survey. The average score was 64. Anyone scoring more than 80 is putting up with a lot of 'background noise'. The redeeming feature of the assessment is that most people can halve their score within three months, if they embark on a vigorous aerobic exercise, strength and flexibility training program and lay off the garbohydrates (yep, that's a 'g' not a 'c'.

 

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 No. of people scoring 10  
Musculo-skeletal dysfunction 44    
Low level of fitness 40    
Overweight 38 8  
Stressed financial status 37 5  
Lack of Energy 35    
Poor sleep 34    
Snoring, sleep apnoea 30    
Poor work-life balance 27    
High alcohol intake 26 8  
Anxious 24    
Wrong job 20    
Smoking 19    
Headaches 17    
Reflux, unsettled stomach 17 4  
Elevated blood pressure 17 13  
Depressed 13 1  
Unhappy family life 13    
Elevated cholesterol 12 5  
Shortness of breath from asthma 11    
Caffeine 11    
Under appreciated at work 10    
Frequent colds, flu, sinus 10    
Irritable bowel, constipation etc 8    
Grinding teeth 8    
Itchy, rashes, psoriasis 7    
Elevated glucose 7 3  
Mouth ulcers 4    
Candida 3    
Chest pain, palpitations 3    
Shakes, nervous mannerisms 3    

 

As usual, musculo-skeletal dysfunction, lack of general fitness and obesity feature at the top of the list.

 

A pleasing result is the low number of people who said they were under-appreciated at work.

 

Musculo-skeletal Risk factor Profile

 

The musculo-skeletal risk factor profile looked at a range of parameters including mobility, strength and flexibility and whether people are training to keep themselves strong and flexible. The musculo-skeletal risk factor profile is comprised of the following test items:

• Current musculo-skeletal condition

• Closeness to ideal weight

• leg strength

• Abdominal strength test

• Upper body strength test

• Flexibility

• Ability to sit up straight with legs crossed

• Shoulder function

• Strength training behaviour

• Flexibility training behaviour.

 

The 'pass mark' for each individual t4est item is 7/10. The 'pass mark' for the test overall is 70/100.

 

A score of 70% is attainable by those who have a regular and systematic training program.

 

Those scoring less than 70 are not doing sufficient in the way of strength and flexibility exercises. They are therefore exposing themselves to a high risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction. (It would be bizarre for a workplace to offer to pay the rehabilitation costs of people who were not keeping themselves strong enough or flexible enough to do their job without succumbing to musculo-skeletal dysfunction, wouldn't it?)

   

 

 

 

A high proportion (anyone scoring less than 6 out of 10) of people are experiencing constant pain and discomfort. In a corporate setting we'd recommend that those scoring less the 5 need to be required attend a prehab/rehab program, for their own benefit and that of the organisation.

  As a rough estimate, around 50% of people were 10Kg over weight. Being over weight is a significant risk factor in the development of joint and muscle pain.
 

 
 

With 2 exceptions, leg strength was good.

  Abdominal strength was fair.  30% of people failed the test. Z crook back is highly correlated with weak muscles on the front side of the body.
 

 
  Around 50% of people failed this test. One of the best predictors of risk of lower back pain is the ability to do pressups.   This is a good result. Only 3 people couldn't touch their toes. Lower back pain goes with poor hamstring flexibility.
 

 

  This is not a good result. The risk of lower back pain is high. 30% of people couldn't sit up straight with their legs crossed and hands clasped behind their back, without falling over. A major cause of lower back pain is tight buttock muscles.   On the whole 'not bad' but around 30% of people failed the test.
 

 

  This test recorded the ability of people to take their heels over their head. A score of 10/10 signified people could put their toes on the floor behind them.   With a couple of exceptions, shoulder function was very good. Poor shoulder function can usually be restored to good with an intensive strength and flexibility training program.

Average score: 61. Not a bad result. This graph show why some people are experiencing pain.

 

Too many people do not have the strength and flexibility training program needed to keep their musculo-skeletal system in good condition. There is a strong case of the group to implement an obligatory strength and flexibility program for those who scored less than 60 in this profile.

 

We recommend

 

1.  specialist prehab and rehab sessions for those at serious risk and those already dysfunctional and on compo

 

2.  daily strength and flexibility sessions in the workplace for everyone.

 

 

Fit for Work

 


S
cores in the Musculo-skeletal Health Risk Assessment have been used for the Fit for Work Award.

 

Level

Award

Pressups

Situps

Squats

Awards for

23 people

6 Gold 30 30 30 2
5 Silver 25 25 25 3
4 Bronze 20 20 20 4
3 Green 15 15 15 4
2 Amber 10 10 10 4
1 Red <10 <10 <10 6

Pressups, situps and squats in 60 seconds

 

A fair standard for people to aim at would be the Bronze Award - 20 situps, 20 pressups and 20 squats. You wouldn't judge anyone who failed to reach the bronze level as being fit for work.
 

Recommendations

 

Measure risk and Manage Risk

There is an epidemic of personally-generated musculo-skeletal dysfunction in our workplaces.

 

Most organisations neither measure the risk nor manage it.

 

Their workers compensation insurer doesn't measure the risk either. Nor do they rate premiums against individual risk.

 

We recommend the Organisation take seriously and monitor carefully the incidence of personally-generated musculo-skeletal dysfunction and put in place an organisation-wide strategy to improve strength, flexibility and mobility. A high proportion of people do not have a strength and flexibility program. As a result they are getting weaker and tighter by the week, thereby exposing themselves and the organisation to risk.

 

A high proportion of people said they would willingly agree to take part in a daily exercise program to improve their musculo-skeletal health.

 

A high proportion of people said they'd take part in a prehab program.

 

When push comes to shove and people become dysfunctional, it will be the Organisation that ends up paying the high cost of an avoidable musculo-skeletal complaint. In our opinion musculo-skeletal dysfunction caused by lack of a regular and systematic strength and flexibility program cannot be classified as an injury.

 

Responsibility for musculo-skeletal dysfunction needs to be sheeted home to individual employees, though it’s unlikely to happen without the establishment of a culture within the Organisation that supports, values and understands the importance of staff keeping themselves strong and flexible.

 

We recommend a range of strength and flexibility classes that are readily available Australia-wide: -

 

Posture and Flexibility

Yoga

Crookback Clinic

Tai Chi

Pontius Pilates

 

The Organisation would place itself in the forefront of OH&S practice if it took the musculo-skeletal risk seriously and moved heaven and earth to educate all staff about this risk and obligated them to take part in a regular strength and flexibility program.

 

Maybe The Organisation and its worker's compensation insurer could invest in a pilot program to increase staff strength and flexibility! The lack of strength and flexibility training coupled with poor abdominal strength, upper body strength, flexibility and shoulder function is a cause for concern and needs the attention of individual staff and managers.

 

Prehab and rehab classes

 

We strongly recommend that the people who are in current poor musculo-skeletal condition and who lack abdominal strength, upper body strength, flexibility, shoulder function and functional mobility, in particular those who - who failed to attain the Fit-for-Work Bronze Award -  be obligated to attend regular, in-house strength and flexibility classes. The pressure on the organisation's workers' compensation costs is such that to do otherwise would, in our opinion be to abrogate a responsibility for the prudent management of the organisation's finances.

 

 

Miller Health

In association with Integrated Health Systems

7 Salvado Place Stirling ACT 2611

(02) 6288 7703