2. TARALGON 301 2009
John Miller conducted a Health Management program for The Group in May and June 2009.
301 people, 233 men and 68 women men completed the following profiles: -
■ Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
■ Musculo-skeletal risk
16 people were aged over 60
87 people were aged between 5- and 59
78 were aged between 40 and 49
54 were aged between 30 and 39
60 were aged under 30.
The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.
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.
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Symptom |
None |
Not much |
A fair bit |
A lot |
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1. |
Headaches including migraines |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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2. |
Lack of energy and vitality |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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3. |
Candida - jock itch, thrush, tinea ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
4. |
Poor sleep. If on tablets score 10 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
5. |
Snoring &/or sleep apnoea. Score 10 if using a mask |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
6. |
Crook back, stiff neck, sore shoulders, dicky knee RSI ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
7. |
Frequent colds, flu, sinus |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
8. |
Unsettled stomach, reflux (Score 10 if on medication) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
9. |
Overweight - 1 point for every 2Kg |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
10. |
Irritable bowel, constipation |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
11. |
Asthma |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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12. |
Low level of aerobic fitness |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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13. |
Chest pain, palpitations |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
14. |
Rashes, itchiness, skin outbreaks, psoriasis ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
15. |
Mouth ulcers, cold sores |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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16. |
Elevated blood pressure. Score 0 on pills |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
17. |
Elevated blood cholesterol. Score o if on pills |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
18. |
Elevated blood glucose. Score 0 if on medication |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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19. |
Shakes, nervous ticks, mannerisms |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
20. |
Grinding teeth |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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21. |
Alcoholic drinks per day (2 pts/drink) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
22. |
Smoking. (1 pt/cigarette/day) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
23. |
Caffeine (1 pt/cup per day) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
24. |
Anxious about life, insecure, apprehensive |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
25. |
Sad or depressed (On medication, score 0) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
26. |
In wrong job for now |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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27. |
Under-appreciated at work |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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28. |
Have poor work/life balance |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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29. |
Unhappy with family life |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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|
30. |
Unhappy with financial status |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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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 70. With a few exceptions a lot of these people are not in great shape. Anyone scoring more than 80 is putting up with a lot of 'background noise'.
What surprised us about this score is the higher than normal number of people scoring less than 20 on the profile. In that respect it's a good result.
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 been ranked - the higher the score the worse the problem. The results appear in the table below.
We registered those scores of 5 and over as being a symptom, issue or concern, the most pressing of which have been highlighted.
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Symptoms/issues/concerns |
% of 301 people scoring over 5 |
No. of people |
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Crook back, sore shoulders etc |
56 |
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Low level of fitness |
52 |
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Overweight |
40 |
34 >20KG | ||
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Poor sleep |
39 |
5 | ||
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Snoring, sleep apnoea |
36 |
5 | ||
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Lack of Energy |
35 |
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Poor work-life balance |
28 |
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Under appreciated at work |
27 |
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Alcohol |
22 |
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Reflux, unsettled stomach |
20 |
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Elevated cholesterol |
20 |
22 | ||
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Financial status |
19 |
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Headaches |
19 |
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Caffeine |
19 |
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Anxious |
19 |
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Frequent colds, flu, sinus |
17 |
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Wrong job |
17 |
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Smoking |
16 |
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Elevated blood pressure |
15 |
25 | ||
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Irritable bowel, constipation etc |
13 |
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Unhappy family life |
13 |
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Depressed |
11 |
7 | ||
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Shortness of breath from asthma |
10 |
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Itchy, rashes, psoriasis |
9 |
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Grinding teeth |
8 |
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Candida |
7 |
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Chest pain, palpitations |
7 |
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Elevated glucose |
7 |
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Shakes, nervous mannerisms |
6 |
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Mouth ulcers |
5 |
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
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Musculo-skeletal dysfunction 56% of people said they had some sort of musculo-skeletal dysfunction. The gave themselves a score of 5 or more on the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile. 10 of those people gave themselves a score of 10 - meaning they are in pain severe pain most of the time.
The organisation is at grave risk of the personally generated dysfunctions becoming 'work-related' injuries. It must immediately put in train a systematic program of strength and flexibility exercises for staff - or cop it sweet as workers compensation claims increase. The medical profession will diagnose all 'injuries' as work-related. The clerical officers in the insurance company are unlikely to go against medical advice.
There were a number of staff whose dysfunctions were so bad they could not place their feet on the floor when doing the hip crossover.
Musculo-skeletal dysfunction goes with low levels of strength and flexibility. Those at greatest risk need encouragement to attend a strength and flexibility training program several times a week.
Over 95% of participants said they would willing. It take part in 10 minutes of strength and flexibility exercises each morning. One small group has already started.
All it needs is all supervisors to be given the required performance indicators to get the program rolling out throughout the plant. |
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Fitness 52% said they were unfit. This is without an aerobic fitness assessment.
Fitness has a significant bearing on the scores for low levels of energy, poor sleep, snoring, depression and headaches. |
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Obesity 40% of people said they were more than 10Kg over weight. 34 people were more than 20 kg overweight. These people need more exercise and less high energy-dense food. The canteen definitely needs to stop serving up meals comprised of fat, flour and sugar. |
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39% said they didn't sleep well. The first casualty of anxiety is poor sleep. Some people need to attend a few counselling sessions.
As children a lot of people were told to go to bed they weren't taught how to go to sleep. Some need a good aerobic fitness training program. That will get them off to sleep. Some need less alcohol.
Poor sleep is definitely not caused by a lack of Stilnox! |
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Snoring 36% of people said they snored loudly enough for it to be a problem.
The recipe for a good snore is to be male, be unfit and at least 20Kg over weight, to have high blood pressure, have a few drinks every night, be stressed out of their brain and sleep on their back.
If people are not sleeping well they're probably coming to work tired. That creates an unsafe workplace. |
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Lack of energy 39% of people said they lacked energy.
Low levels of energy come from many sources, including: - - lack of a good aerobic fitness training program - a diet high in wheat flour and sugar - dullness - ... |
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Poor work-life balance 28% said they had a poor work/life balance. This is higher than normal particularly for people working in predominantly manual occupations. Managers can keep an eye on this. |
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Under-appreciation at work 28% said they were under-appreciated at work.
Managers need to take note and put in train a series of measures to improve this score in say, 3 months time.
This is an item that needs to be continually measured and managers held to account. |
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Being in the wrong job Only 17% of people 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. On this occasion this was not the case. Far fewer people thought they were in the wrong job than we normally see.
This is good news. |
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22% of people indicated they had a higher than normal alcohol intake. There are a few good reasons to drink less - you'll feel better - you'll save more money - you'll lose weight.
Willpower dissolves in alcohol! |
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16% of people smoked. This is a shade under the national average. So it's a pleasing result.
However, whilst 14% of men smoked, 23% of women smoked.
It's a habit that's killing people and we recommend the company move heaven and earth to assist people to quit. Plus it's costing the smokers a fortune in money that many don't have.
It would be in the company's interest to mount a continuous and vigorous Quit smoking campaign. It's about the best thing an organisation can do for the health if it's staff. |
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Headaches 19% of people said they regularly get headaches. Headaches are caused by - a diet high in wheat flour and sugar - caffeine withdrawal - lack of oxygen getting to the head - a sluggish elimination system - a head out of alignment due to tight and weak muscles - beating your head against a brick wall - ... |
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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. |
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Diet A diet high in flour and sugar and low in fruit, vegetables and fibre leads to irritable and bowel, reflux. |
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Depression and anxiety There is an epidemic of depression in our community and we encourage all organisations to target depression. 13% of people gave themselves a score of 5 or more on the depression question, indicating risk that needs to be dealt with.
7 people were on anti-depressant medication.
There is a significant core of depression that relates to poor health generally.
All body systems are connected. The epidemic of depression will continue to escalate at the same rate as the epidemic of all other body system dysfunctions. People need to be given encouragement to exercise regularly and vigorous, eat less flour and sugar and imbibe less of the culturally chemicals - particularly nicotine, caffeine and alcohol.
Because of the relationship of depression to fitness and diet there is a chance that some people have been misdiagnosed.
Some aspects of depression relate to psychologically generated issues. It is important that these people be encouraged to have regular counselling - through the EAP or other counsellors -
The best book about depression I've read, and what you can do about it, and one that I recommend highly is by psychiatrist, David Servan-Schreiber, Healing Without Freud or Prozac. |
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Blood pressure 15% of people indicated their blood pressure was elevated and 25 people were on blood pressure medication.
Blood pressure is a symptom of metabolic dysfunction relating directly to
- lack of aerobic fitness - being over weight - being stressed.
Of course high blood pressure is not due to a lack of Avpro! |
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There were no people on diabetes medication. This is a pleasing result. I would have expected that some staff were. maybe the movement is enough to maintain normal blood glucose levels. |
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20% of people said they had elevated cholesterol levels. 22 people were on cholesterol lowering medication. Of course high cholesterol is not due to a lack of Lipitor! |
With metabolic dysfunction, - symptoms of which are high blood pressure, high glucose, high cholesterol, depression ... there is always the tendency for the medical industry to prescribe medication to mask the symptom, rather than prescribe a lifestyle change that involves the customer actually doing something to restore poor function to good. That something is vigorous aerobic exercise, meditation, getting back closer to an ideal weight, taking holidays ...
MUSCULO-SKELETAL RISK FACTOR
Our 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 a mix of 7 objective and 3 subjective assessments.
Current musculo-skeletal condition
Body composition
Abdominal strength test
Leg strength
Upper body strength test
Flexibility
Functional mobility the ability to sit down and stand up with ease.
Shoulder function
Strength training behaviour
Flexibility training behaviour
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?)
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A poor result. A reasonable score would be 7/10. 67% of people scored less than that.
56% the participants are experiencing some pain and discomfort, 30% of people a lot. Those scoring less the 6 need to be obligated to attend a prehab/rehab program, for their own benefit and that of the organisation. I don't know of anyone who wants to put up with musculo-skeletal dysfunction. |
37% were 10 or more kilos over their ideal weight. Being overweight greatly compromises mobility. |
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Generally speaking a good result. 25 people performed poorly. |
This is a poor result. 48% of people failed the test. 56 people couldn't do one sit up. This means that the strength of the muscles on the front of their body is not sufficient to keep their pelvis and spinal column in good alignment. |
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This is a mediocre result. 40% of people failed the test. They are leaving themselves open to upper back, shoulder and arm dysfunction.
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This is a mediocre result. 61 people couldn't touch their toes at all. Too many people have tight muscles along the back side of their body - calves, hamstrings, buttock and back. It's caused by two things - sitting down and not having a flexibility program. There is a high risk of lower back and neck dysfunction. |
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A fair result. 21% of people are having difficulty getting down on the floor and back up again. Being overweight and having a game leg, bung hip and a crook back dramatically reduces mobility. |
A better than usual result. But having said that, 30% had dysfunctional shoulders. |
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Its always the case, few people have a regular strength and flexibility program. The organisation needs to put in train a regular and systematic training program, on site, that includes
1. specialist prehab and rehab sessions for those at serious risk and those already dysfunctional.
2. daily 10 minute strength and flexibility sessions for all staff.
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Average score: 57. Not good. These people are not in particularly good shape. The risk of musculo-skeletal dysfunction is high due to low levels of strength and flexibility. There is a strong case for the organisation to implement an obligatory strength and flexibility program for those who scored less than 60 in this profile. |
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This is what the musculo-skeletal score would look like if everyone had a regular and systematic strength and flexibility training program |
Lack of strength and flexibility is something that the Organisation needs to take seriously and monitor carefully and put in place an organisation-wide strategy to improve musculo-skeletal function. By far and away 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.
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. Click here to read the article from injury to dysfunction. Click here to read about swifties and fallacies.
In our opinion musculo-skeletal dysfunction caused by the 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 its unlikely to happen without the establishment of a culture within the organisation that supports, values and understands strength and flexibility.
We recommend a range of strength and flexibility classes that are readily available Australia-wide: -
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Posture and Flexibility |
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Yoga |
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Crookback Clinic |
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Tai Chi |
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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 encourage 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.
Recommendation
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 scored less than 60 on the profile, 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.
10 minute exercise program
99% of staff said they would willingly take part in a 10 minute strength and flexibility training session at work each day.
2008 musculo-skeletal risk survey
Click on this link to see the results of the 2008 musculo-skeletal risk survey.