Diet and exercise are a simple prescription for the prevention and management of chronic disease. I acknowledge this is not breaking news however, facts well worth tuning in to. The CDC states \u201cSeven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases,\u201d and treating people with chronic diseases accounts for 86% of our nation\u2019s health care costs. It\u2019s understandable why efforts to prevent diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease are the foundation of wellness programs, and not surprising that companies are offering employees healthy eating and exercise programs in the workplace, during the workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A Fox News article focused on the importance of weight loss. The author, Elizabeth Renter, highlighted how in addition to the benefits of weight loss, exercise supports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So by the numbers, to decrease healthcare costs it makes sense to implement exercise programs in the workplace to decrease the risk of chronic disease, right? Well, right, and<\/em> wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise is beneficial for the healthy body. An unfortunate drawback to exercise however, is that injuries are likely to occur if the body is not healthy. An injury, or Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD), may include back pain, sprains, strains and will be the reason your exercise programs flops. According to the CDC, MSDs account for an estimated 130 million total health care encounters in the United States annually, and the Institute of Medicine estimates of the economic burden of MSDs, as measured by compensation costs, lost wages, and lost productivity, are between $45 and $54 billion annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does this mean?<\/strong> Let\u2019s rethink our approach to wellness program design. Before starting an exercise program we\u2019ve always been told to consult our physician. But now we know that such a visit will contribute to the $54 billion economic burden mentioned above. Let\u2019s instead shift this strategy to fit today\u2019s model of healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today in PT <\/strong>blogged about Physical Therapists in the workplace for a new model of care<\/a>. Physical Therapists and another Allied Healthcare Professional, the Athletic Trainer can ensure employees are healthy enough for exercise and work and can also address employee\u2019s workstations to reduce risk of work-related MSDs (WMSDs). Whether in the cubicle or warehouse, workers are regularly required to perform repetitive tasks. Repetitive tasks along with compromised ergonomics are the perfect combination for an MSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To quickly summarize what we\u2019ve considered here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider instituting a Workplace PT or AT in your workplace. Workplace PTs and ATs can keep employees healthy by screening workers and the workplace for risks, and provide interventions and strategies for your enhancing the results of your worksite or corporate wellness program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information and to get in touch with a Workplace Wellness Coordinator, please visit Marathon’s Workplace Physical Therapy page<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Diet and exercise are a simple prescription for the prevention and management of chronic disease. I acknowledge this is not breaking news however, facts well worth tuning in to. The CDC states \u201cSeven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases,\u201d and treating people with chronic diseases accounts for 86% of … <\/p>\n