Results CMD June 2006
John Miller conducted a health seminar and assessment program for The Organisation in June 2006.
Participants completed two profiles.
■ Mind and Body
■ Musculo-skeletal risk
Participants completed the Mind and Body and Musculo-skeletal Risk factor profiles.
The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.
CONTEXT
The health assessment program conducted by Miller Health is based on the premise that the health of key body systems depends on
physical fitness
diet and
an ability to manage the stress of both life and work.
Within the Australian community, there is currently an epidemic of body system dysfunctions which when translated into the workplace are associated with increased absenteeism and workers compensation, and decreased work performance and productivity.
There are very few organisations that are immune from this epidemic.
THE PROGRAM
The assessments took an holistic look at health, being based on the premise that the major systems of the body maintain healthy function when they are supported by
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a physically active way of life |
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a diet comprise principally of fresh food and which restricts the intake of manufactured food (anything in a plastic bag or cardboard box), sugar and alcohol. |
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management of stress, both that which is generated internally and that which impact on each individual from their external environment |
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work satisfaction, including work stress |
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a life in balance in which people have interests outside of work which distract them from being busy and miserable. |
HEALTH PROFILES
The Mind and Body profile was used as a way of obtaining a snap shot of peoples health, fitness and stress levels. In the workplace it is also a good measure of the risk of absenteeism, presenteeism and workers compensation.
People in poor shape experience
headaches
poor sleep
lack of energy and vitality
musculo-skeletal dysfunction
frequent colds and flu
obesity
anxiety ...
Sample
Because of the nature of the sample selection, it is not appropriate to make organisation-wide generalizations about health and fitness. As the Mind and Body Profile indicates, by and large this was a group of people of average health and fitness.
The aging population
We believe (barring disability) there is nothing stopping anyone of working age from being in exceptionally good physical condition except lack of training. It's not so much that we have an aging population but a lazy population. We know this is the case because according to the principle of increased dysfunction, people are getting older younger!
Theoretically, as people get older they should be able to maintain a high level of fitness theyve had longer to train!
The Governments of Australia base their medical system data on the fact that as people get older they become more dysfunctional. Whilst this may be the case for people over the age of 75, it is not necessarily the case for people of working age. As a general rule, poor health and body system dysfunction goes hand in hand with low levels of physical activity, junk food diets, over-consumption of alcohol, an inability to handle the normal stresses of life and a job that does not suit their personality, intelligence strengths or interests.
MIND AND BODY PROFILE
The Mind and Body 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, the lower the score the better.
To complete the profile, circle the number appropriate to the degree to which you experience the symptoms on the left hand side of the page. The greater the symptom, the higher the score.
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Symptom |
None |
Not much |
A fair bit |
A lot |
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1. |
Headaches |
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Migraines |
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Lack of energy and vitality |
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Candida - jock itch, thrush, tinea ... |
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Poor sleep. If on tablets score 10 |
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Snoring &/or sleep apnoea. |
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Crook back, sore shoulders RSI ... |
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Frequent colds, flu, sinus |
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Unsettled stomach, reflux |
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Irritable bowel, constipation, trots ... |
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Overweight - 1 point for every 2Kg |
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Asthma |
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Low level of aerobic fitness |
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Chest pain, palpitations |
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Rashes, itchiness, psoriasis, zits |
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Mouth ulcers, cold sores |
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Elevated blood pressure. Score 0 on pills |
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Reduced libido |
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Shakes, nervous ticks, mannerisms |
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Grinding teeth |
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Alcoholic drinks per day (2 pts/drink) |
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Smoking. (1 pt/cigarette/day) |
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Caffeine (1 pt/cup per day) |
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Anxious about life in general |
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Insecure/apprehensive about the future |
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Sad or depressed (On medication, score 0) |
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27. |
In wrong job for now |
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28. |
Under-appreciated at work |
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Under-appreciated at home |
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Unhappy with family and romantic life |
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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 them.
Remember, it is not what happens, but how we deal with what happens that determines our level of stress.
This profile is described as good. The average score was 49.
For the group, the risk of absenteeism, presenteeism and workers' compensation is not particularly high, except for the people who scored over 80. However, this is a much better shaped graph that that which we get from most of our corporate groups. It's a pleasing result.
How well people score on the Mind and Body profile provides them with a good indication of how fit and healthy they really are.
I read somewhere that we don't see full blown body system dysfunction until the particular system is 70% dysfunctional. What the Mind and Body profile does is pick up the dysfunctions at an early stage - (you know something's wrong and you feel dreadful but you can't put your finger on the particular system that's causing it. It doesn't matter that you don't know the precise system involved. What you are aware of is that one or more of your systems isn't working at full pitch. The good news is that you can restore function to normal by getting fitter, eating wisely, meditating getting the job you'd love to do ...) Very few people became fitter and healthier in a doctor's surgery!
Being vigorously physically active on a regular and systematic basis is the most powerful symbol of your ability to give back to your Self. On top of that it protects the body from a wide range of dysfunctions and contributes to an enhancement of the body's own recuperative powers.
There is an epidemic of body system dysfunction in our community and it is certainly not caused by a lack of Panadol, Avpro, Diabex, Lipitor, Ventolin, Milantin, Celebrex, Valium, Zoloft, Viagra or Anusol!
The mind/body relationship
The body is an ecosystem of which the mind is an integral part. Major body systems are frequently negatively affected by stress generated in the mind. The body is incapable of dishonesty!
On the other hand, the mind is effected by the healthy working order of other body systems. Certainly it is affected by physical activity, diet, meditation, acupuncture and a low-toxic environment.
People who are physically fit are less likely to become depressed. They are also more likely to have a strong immune system and an autonomic nervous system that is balanced and healthy in its management of key physiological responses. They are healthy and happy. They have normal blood pressure, they sleep like logs, are about their ideal weighty, rarely, if ever get a headache and don't have a crook back.
As your fitness level improves you can be certain that your score on the Mind and Body profile will also.
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 9 objective and 1 subjective assessments.
Current musculo-skeletal condition
Age
Closeness to ideal weight
Abdominal strength test
Upper body strength test
Flexibility
Functional mobility the ability to sit down and stand up with ease.
Shoulder function
Dominant hand grip
Non-dominant hand grip
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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This is a pretty good result. 7/10 is the pass mark. There is risk associated with those people who scored less than 6. |
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Age rarely wearies those who are fit and healthy - at least not for a long time. |
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This is a very good set of numbers. The people who scored 6/10 estimated they were 10Kg over their ideal weight. |
Another good result, except for the 4 people who couldn't do one situp. A crook back goes well with weak lower body, abdominal and back muscles. |
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Another good result, except for the 5 people who were not able to do more than 7 pressups. Upper body and arm strength is crucial to fending off sore necks, shoulders and wrists. |
There's a lot of tightness in this group - from sitting down for years without loosening off calves, hamstrings and buttock muscles. This rates as high risk. The solution: start doing calf, hamstring and buttock stretches - every day as part of your work warm-up. |
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A good result, except for those scoring less than 6. |
Hmmmm. Generally very good, but you wouldn't bet on the two people down the lower end of the scale. Time for a total body loosening and strengthening program. |
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This graph indicates why there is an epidemic of hand and wrist dysfunction in our workplaces. they call it Ooze! Strength has just oozed out of people's hands and wrists. |
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Musculo-skeletal risk average, 62. Not bad. However, there is a very good case for the implementation of a mandatory strength and flexibility program for people scoring less than 60/100. Things will not get better until you get stronger and more flexible and it's a big ask expecting to get better by having someone do something to you. |
PRINCIPLES OF MUSCULO-SKELETAL DYSFUNCTION
1. Bones do what muscles tell them to do.
2. The cause of the pain is rarely at the site of the pain.
As a result, few people, or their therapists attribute lower back and neck pain to their tight calves, buttocks and hamstrings,
Lack of strength and flexibility is something that all organisations need 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 we see 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.
FROM INJURY TO DYSFUNCTION
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 is a personal responsibility, 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: -
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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 training program. Maybe The Organisation and its worker's compensation insurer could invest in a pilot program to increase staff strength and flexibility!
Whilst we rate the score as good, the lack of strength and flexibility training needs to be followed up.
RECOMMENDATIONS
See the generic list of recommendations.