Course Overview
Introduction
Employee Accountability and Responsibility
The course begins by establishing the employee’s role in their own health and safety. The concept of “my job causes it” is challenged.
“What’s in It for Me?”
The employee is encouraged to ask “What’s in it for me?” The answer to this question ultimately motivates change in that individual. Participants are encouraged to examine how choices affect the course of their lives. They are reminded that choosing not to change is a choice.
What Makes Us Sick?
We may think we’re healthy, when we’re really not. There is a big difference between being healthy and just not sick. Symptoms are an inaccurate way to gage our health. This discussion, addressing life issues and not just work, provides a framework for the remainder of the program.
Injury Prevention
Poor body mechanics are to blame for a wide variety of injuries and cumulative trauma disorders. A perfect complement to prior safety training, this section is an anatomy-based, simple to follow segment on how our bodies work, what can go wrong, and what we can do about it.
Back Injuries
An in-depth discussion about lower back injuries and disc problems:
- Basic anatomy of the spine
- Understanding how the spine works in order to take care of it
- Cumulative nature of lower back pain
- How body mechanics on and off the job affect disc failure over time
- Demonstration of proper lifting techniques
- Job specific tasks — an overview of proper body mechanics specific to each work site
- Customized series of slides — shows workers in real-life situations demonstrating good and poor body mechanics
- Series of stretches — demonstrated with attendee participation
Tennis Elbow / Tendonitis
Topics covered include:
- Basic anatomy
- Causes of tendonitis
- Importance of early management
- Preventative stretches
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
An overview of how carpal tunnel syndrome occurs:
- Not just the wrist, a look at the entire nerve supply
- Tools for prevention / self help measures
- Importance of early management
- Proactive approach to prevention
- Surgery as a last resort, not the first line of defense
Stiffness / Premature Arthritis
Why we ache:
- How excess body weight accelerates the wear and tear process on joints
- X-rays of healthy vs. arthritic joints
- The importance of proper hydration
- Maintaining flexibility
- Techniques demonstrated for proper seated posture
Office Ergonomics
This section of the course is only included when applicable to the participants.
How seated posture and workstation design can prevent common skeletal problems:
- Participants assess the positions in which they choose to hold their bodies throughout the day
- Understanding that the job itself isn’t stressful to the body, but the manner in which it is performed
- Basic ergonomic principles
- Importance of proper seated posture
- Simple self-assessment ergonomic checklist
- Series of preventative stretches — designed specifically for office workers and demonstrated with class participation
Stress Management
Why are we all stressed out? Attitudes and perceptions are examined from a different perspective in an upbeat manner:
Practical Tools for Stress Management
- Balancing the demands of our busy lives
- Solutions that can be applied to any situation
Rather than complaining… try to be part of the solution
- Relevant tools for problem solving
Lifestyle & Practical Nutrition
Obesity is now the second-leading cause of death in America, second only to heart disease, and the incidence of diabetes is increasing dramatically. Our abundance is creating health problems at epidemic proportions.
Participants take a hard look into their own choices as how their current state of health is directly related to those choices. Presented in a motivational format, participants are able to realize that health is attainable, and that it’s not too late.
- Practical strategies for your ideal weight
- Move more: The importance of physical activity
- The “Typical American Diet” is making us sick
- Why sugar is poison
- The case against soft drinks
- More reasons not to smoke
- Diseases of choice: Obesity, Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease
- Simple changes vs. lifelong illness
- What will you choose while there’s still time?
- Weighing the risks
- Choosing to change
Conclusion
Your health today is a result of the priority you have placed on your health up to today:
- Knowing where we’ve succeeded and failed in our personal quest for health
- Being aware of how much, or how little priority we’ve placed on our health
- Assessing our own risk factors
- Writing a personal action plan for change — a class “take-away” and motivational tool for positive change