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.

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. The average score was 67. Anyone scoring more than 80 is putting up with a lot of 'background noise'.

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.

One interesting feature of the table is that whereas only 9% of people indicated they may have been in the wrong job, 24% said they were under-appreciated at work. There is no reason why people should feel under-appreciated at work. 9% of people indicating they may be in the wrong job is a very small percentage of staff. Compared with other groups this is a loyal and devoted staff. They deserve to be appreciated.

A high proportion of people were over weight, particularly people under 40. This is not a good sign for their future health.

The 29% of people with musculo-skeletal dysfunction is lower than in most organisations where it is close to 50%. BUT, our recommendation is that the organisation have a mandatory 10 minute strength and flexibility program, each day. We also recommend that for people in very poor musculo-skeletal condition that they take part in a one hour Pro-Active Rehab session each day until their condition improves. This is a small price to pay for improved joint and muscle function.

Being over weight (37%) and under fit (36%) is a sure sign of poor metabolic health. Along with low energy levels (29%) the three go together.

Musculo-skeletal Risk factor Profile

The Tern Point Musculo-skeletal Health Risk Screen 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

• Closeness to ideal weight

• leg strength

• Abdominal strength test

• Upper body strength test

• Hamstring flexibility as measured by an ability to reach forward to past one's toes

• Buttock flexibility as measured by an ability to sit up straight with legs crossed

• 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?)

A good score on this profile is a high score.

   

	Not a particularly good result. In a corporate setting we'd recommend that those scoring less the 6 attend a daily one hour, Pro-Active Rehab program until their condition improves.		37% of people were more than 10Kg over weight. Half of those were 20Kg over weight. Being over-weight is a sure sign of poor metabolic health. It goes with being under fit!
	25% of staff lacked adequate leg strength - or had hip or knee problems.		50% of people lack front of body strength. It exposes them to lower back pain.
	50% of people lacked good arm and shoulder strength. One of the best predictors of risk of lower back pain is the ability to do pressups.		17% of people couldn't touch their toes. Lower back pain goes with poor hamstring flexibility.
	33% couldn't sit up straight with legs crossed and hands clasped behind their back, without falling over. A major cause of lower back pain is tight buttock muscles. This is a high risk group.		30% of staff had poor shoulder function.
9 people had a good strength training program. Only 1 person had a good flexibility training program. No wonder so many people are in poor musculo-skeletal health.   It's usually the case that few people have a regular strength and flexibility program. The group 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 and on compo   2.  daily strength and flexibility sessions in the workplace for everyone.
Average score: 51. This is one of the poorer scores that we have seen. People scoring less than  40 pose a grave risk to the organisations workers compensation arrangements.