Agency Fitness Programs Lacy Wolff, MS, CHFS Instructor, Fitness and Wellness Unit

Moving Upstream Health Promotion Story

Course Objectives Discuss Barriers to Exercise Understand Benefits of Regular Exercise Basics of Building a Physical Fitness Wellness Program Understand the Medical Screening Process for Agency Fitness Program Elements Essential for success of Agency Fitness Program

If there were a pill that could… Lower Blood Pressure Reduce LDL and Total Cholesterol Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Reduce Stress and Improve Mood Look better, feel better! Improve Sleep Quality Promote Weight Loss or Maintenance of Healthy Weight Increase Energy Levels

Quality of Life

If we know all of this, then why....

Barriers to Exercise

Benefits of Employee Fitness Programs Increased Productivity Increased Employer Recruitment Potential Improved Morale Greater Ability to Cope with Stress Reduced Illness Reduced Absenteeism Reduced Accidents Lower Health Insurance Premiums Reduced Turnover

Building a Program Assess Plan Implement Evaluate

Assess Demographics Health Risks Use of Services Current Practices Individual Needs Demographics Health Risks Use of Services Organizational Current Practices Environment Infrastructure Community Resources Food Parks Recreation Opportunities

Plan Establish Communication and Informatics Dedicate Resources Obtain Leadership Support Management Establish Working Group Establish Fitness Coordinator Workplace Health Improvement Plan Goals Strategies/Programs Dedicate Resources Costs Partners Vendors Establish Communication and Informatics Marketing Message Systems

Implement Programs Policies Health Benefits Environmental Support Education Fitness Classes Policies Organizational Rules Health Benefits Incentives Environmental Support Access Opportunity Physical/Social Well Being

Evaluate Organizational Change “Culture of Health” Productivity Absenteeism Healthcare Costs Improved Health Outcomes Reduced disease and disability Organizational Change “Culture of Health” Morale Recruitment

Program Design

Medical Screening We screen to: 1)Ensure safety of personnel. 2)Avoid practices that may result in liability. ETR-162

Program Format Voluntary Mandatory

Types of Physical Fitness Tests Physical Task Tests-Physical Assessment relating to actual job tasks that must be performed by employee Age-Gender Standardized Fitness Test Uses established normative tables to assess fitness levels in various components of fitness Absolute Standard Fitness Test-everyone must score to the standard regardless of age and gender Leads to adverse and disparate impact cases (due to aging process and female gender issues) Depends on the purpose of the test Physical Task Tests are not consistent with job duties and have increased injury rates in DPS. (Lt. Davis will cover further) 2 flights of stairs, body 60 feet, serpentine, jump over fence Agencies that want an employment standard as a fitness program goal adopt task related tests. Agencies that have a goal of improving overall fitness select tests with gender/age dependent standards. Both may be administers. Only 2 agencies that use Absolute Standard Fitness Tests (FBI and Fitness Intervention Technologies/FIT Force- they build physical task tests and absolute standard tests)

Effective Programs Include: Convenient Facilities and Services Feedback to Participants Safe and Effective Activities Evidence Based Education Promote Behavior Change Incentives

Review Top Barriers to Exercise? Benefits of Regular Exercise? Basics of Building a Worksite Health Promotion Program- What are the 4 Steps? Medical Screening Process for Agency Fitness Program? 6 Elements Essential for success of Agency Fitness Program?

References Americans With Disabilities Act Handbook. Title I, Equal employment opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Washington, DC: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Department of Justice; 1992. Armstrong LE, Brubaker PH, Whaley MH, & Otto RM (Eds.). American college of sports medicine: Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 7th Ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006. Cooper Clinic. Master fitness specialist course. Dallas, TX: Cooper Institute; 2003. Howley ET & Franks BD. Health fitness instructor’s handbook. 4th ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2003. Center for Disease Control: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | Division of Population Health Workplace Health Model; 2014.