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Analysis - Workplace wellbeing

The monthly round-up of the news and trends in the wellbeing sector.

April 2008 News

…STOP PRESS

MOST PEOPLE WILLHAVE FALLEN OFF the health wagon by mid-March, research by PruHealth suggests. The poll of 3,292 British adults found that 69% of women planned to embark on a new diet or fitness regime at the start of the year, but just 35% see it as an ongoing, permanent lifestyle change rather than an attempt to quickly lose a few extra pounds. The research said the average dieter sticks to their regime for 78.6 days – from January 1 until mid-March. For 16% of dieters in 2007 it took the shock of a health scare to inspire them to take action. The main motivation was the desire for a healthy lifestyle (35%), followed by the three month run-up to the summer holiday season (22%) and the desire to look good on the beach (18%).

AN ESTIMATED 3.5 MILLION WORKING DAYS were lost to repetitive strain injury (RSI) in 2006/07, with each person affected taking over 13 days off sick. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said the condition costs employers almost £300m per year in lost working time, sick pay and administration. Around 115,000 new cases of RSI, also known as work-related upper limb disorders, were reported in 2006/07, compared with 86,000 new cases in 2005/06. The overall numbers of people reporting a problem with RSI has also risen from 374,000 in 2005/06 to 426,000 in 2006/07.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

This month Brita Forsstrom, Alexander Technique teacher and co-author of The Alexander Technique for Pregnancy and Childbirth, describes the importance of musculoskeletal health

Four out of five adults will suffer back pain in their lifetime, with back pain and musculoskeletal disorders costing the economy an estimated 10 million working days each year.

The Alexander Technique helps people to use their bodies better by teaching them to become aware of and prevent postural habits that cause excessive strain on muscles and joints.

Companies can ensure employees have good musculoskeletal health by offering them one-to-one Alexander Technique lessons with a teacher coming into the workplace or employees going to the teacher’s practice. Alexander teachers can create a tailor-made programme with a combination of workshops, group sessions and individual lessons.

How people sit at their desk is crucial and Alexander teachers can give expert advice on workstation configuration, office furniture and how to use the body well at work.

For more information contact The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) on 020 7482 5135, or visit www.stat.org.uk.