Viverae Health Network

Corporate Fitness Centers: Challenges and Trends

Submitted by Anonymous on November 21, 2011 - 3:36pm

David Risser, COO of FITCO Fitness Center Outfitters, talks about designing the Viverae Fitness Center and the challenges that companies may face when installing fitness centers of their own.

Q: What was FITCO’s main focus in designing the Viverae Fitness Center?

FITCO had two primary objectives in designing and installing the Viverae Fitness Center. The first objective was to incorporate innovative ideas from Viverae into a well-equipped facility that meets the unique needs of the Viverae employees.

The second objective was to create a non-intimidating environment that encourages participation and reinforces company brand and culture.

Q: What are the challenges that companies may not be aware of when developing their own corporate fitness solutions?

In an effort to ensure that they are getting value for what they pay for, companies often fall into a lack-of-confidence trap when it comes to wellness centers. Unsure if their employees will use the center, companies equip the facility to fail by not providing the needed components to be successful. Examples include providing too few cardio pieces, no stretching area, no shower facilities and so on.

A successfully designed facility minimizes excuses not to participate and focuses on encouraging users to try new routines. In addition, the facility must be designed to address the demographics and culture of the company.

Q: Tell us about some of the new, high tech equipment included in the Viverae Fitness Center installation.

FITCO incorporated two new trends in fitness technology ― imitating natural movement and high-tech minimalism ― into the Viverae Fitness Center:

Fitness equipment has become very high tech in terms of mimicking our body’s natural movement. Precor’s Adaptive Motion Trainer adapts to human movement, allowing the user to completely change the motion and path of their steps or strides without the push of a button. It is a fantastic total body workout.

Sometimes high tech is used in the minimalist form. The TRX strap is basically a heavy-duty strap that is supported by hooks or a bar and allows the user to utilize their own body weight to perform a variety of exercises. The TRX Training System focuses on core strength training as well as balance and coordination.”

Check out: The Top 3 Fun Fitness Equipment Options for Your Onsite Fitness Center

Q: Do you have a favorite piece of equipment that you’ve made sure to include in the design?

The Viverae Fitness Center includes a multi-purpose exercise room, a cardio platform, free weights, circuit machines, a stretching area and a mini-track for agility drills, because having access to many components allows workouts to stay fresh, interesting and challenging.

One all-time favorite piece of equipment is the Glide, or cross-cable, machine. The Glide allows users to perform a variety of exercises on one piece of equipment and it is a must for any well-equipped facility.

Q: Finally, have you had a chance to work out in the new Viverae Fitness Center?

Not yet, but I plan to! I am looking forward to putting in a few rounds on the punching bag, taking a quick spin on the stationary bike, doing a little work on the agility ladder and finishing up on the strength machines.

Viverae has partnered with FITCO Fitness Center Outfitters to provide onsite gym design and installation. Learn more here!

See more of the Viverae Fitness Center on the Viverae Facebook Page!

How Does Back Pain Impact Your Health?

Submitted by Anonymous on November 14, 2011 - 9:11pm

Back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability and the leading contributor to work absenteeism. Almost everyone will develop back pain at one time or another. It most often occurs to those who are inactive and between 30 and 50 years old. There are many different things that can cause back pain. The most common causes of back pain include injury to the back, nerve or muscular problems, and chronic conditions such as arthritis or degenerative disk disease. It is important for everyone to develop healthy habits to protect your back and prevent back pain.

Consider where you spend the majority of your time. Are you taking care of your back at work, at home and while you are sleeping? Many people with back pain can prevent this reoccurring pain by practicing simple strategies. Commit to these healthy back habits to care for your back:

• Practice good posture
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Achieve or maintain a healthy weight
• Keep a back-friendly sleep environment
• Quit smoking
• Consume calcium and vitamin D-rich foods
• Perform proper lifting
• Practice stress management
• Exercise regularly

Take steps today to protect your back. If you feel that you may have a back problem, discuss your symptoms and treatment plan with your doctor.

Viverae is a national provider of corporate health management and wellness solutions. We work with employees to help educate them on effective self-management of risk factors like back pain to improve quality of life, productivity and morale while decreasing medical costs.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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What is Diabetes?

Submitted by Anonymous on November 14, 2011 - 8:45pm

Approximately 57 million Americans are at risk for developing diabetes within their lifetime. If this trend continues, one out of every three children born today will develop diabetes at some point in their life. Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by blood glucose levels above normal, or hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age. Type 2 diabetes is the most common and most preventable type of diabetes, traditionally seen in adults but also may occur at any age.

There are risk factors that increase the probability of developing diabetes. For those who have been diagnosed with diabetes, these risk factors also increase the risk of developing complications from diabetes.

• Older age
• Family history of diabetes
• Personal history of gestational diabetes
• Ethnicity, including African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native Americans, and some Asian-Americans
• Overweight or obesity
• Physical inactivity

Some of these factors are within your control. Take time to control the risk factors that you can change and decrease your chances of developing diabetes complications within your lifetime.

Viverae is a national provider of corporate health management and wellness solutions. We work with employees to educate them on the importance of following their physician’s treatment plan to better self-manage chronic conditions like diabetes.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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4 Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy

Submitted by Anonymous on November 9, 2011 - 2:52pm

This is the second article in the Viverae Healthy Pregnancy series. The first article, Starting Off Right focused on pre-pregnancy health and planning.

Congratulations, you are pregnant! If a thousand questions are running through your mind, this is normal. Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. The next nine months will fly by at times and seem never-ending at others. You will experience many physical and emotional changes and, depending on how your body responds, you may experience several changes all at one time.

It is important to keep you and your baby’s health the focus of your pregnancy. Practicing healthy habits is important for every stage of life, and especially during your pregnancy. Making wise health choices while you are pregnant can affect your baby’s health and may even reduce the risk of many complications. Your nutrition choices, activity habits and stress levels will all impact you and your baby’s health over the next nine months. Take time to read over the following tips for a happy and healthy pregnancy:

• Prenatal care, which is care before childbirth, is essential. Finding the right health care provider to help you through your pregnancy and the labor and delivery of your baby is an important step. Whether you choose an obstetrician, family physician or nurse-midwife, finding someone that you feel comfortable with is key.

• Good nutrition during pregnancy is vital for your baby’s health and development. In addition to taking a prenatal vitamin, you need to be aware of your food choices and how they support the health of your pregnancy. Your food choices are the building blocks of your baby’s nutrition; what you eat, your baby eats.

• Physical activity plays a part in keeping your health a priority during pregnancy. It is important to consider your pre-pregnancy activity level when planning to start any activity while you are pregnant. However, no matter what your activity level, all pregnant women should first speak with their physician before engaging in any physical activity.

• Your pregnancy will be stressful at times so, stress management during pregnancy is key. When you are experiencing stressful situations, identifying the causes of your stress and developing healthy strategies to cope can help reduce its impact on your health.

Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy this special time in your life!

Viverae is a national provider of corporate health and wellness solutions. Our health specialists provide health education and support for all stages of the member’s life. To learn how Viverae can impact the health of your organization, visit Viverae.com.

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Corporate Health Coaching and Your Bottom Line

Submitted by Anonymous on October 27, 2011 - 6:09pm
Tips for Pre-Pregnancy

Corporate Health Coaching and Your Bottom Line

At Viverae, our success is built on the Viverae intervention: a three-pronged approach that includes basic health screening, interactive health coaching, and a series of events and incentives to drive and maintain employee involvement. Corporate health coaching is one of the best things you can do for your employees, your productivity, and your bottom line. Without the relationship and interaction of health coaching, health screening and incentive programs won’t be as successful. If you want to see a real difference in your healthcare-related costs, invest in a top-notch health coaching program. Here are a few ways to get started:

Begin With a Health Assessment

Our Member Health Assessment (MHA) is a 20-question form that assesses employee behaviors involving physical activity, tobacco, stress, nutrition, and general lifestyle (which includes alcohol, sleep, and overall satisfaction with life). Results of the MHA are numerically calibrated based on health research to produce a “health index.” A higher index indicates better health and a lower risk for health issues.

Add a Biometric Score

Our biometric score is a combined, weighted score based on cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and other physical characteristics, as taken by trained health professionals. As with the MHA, a higher combined score means lower overall health risks.

Coach Your Highest-Risk Members Most Actively

Deliver consistent health coaching by trained counselors or clinicians. Use the combined MHA and biometric scores – Viverae has developed a proprietary overall health score model - to identify those with the greatest health risks, and reach out to them most often by phone, secure messaging, or face-to-face conferencing. At Viverae, we advocate monthly coaching for the highest risk members, quarterly coaching for members with moderate risk, and at least annual coaching even lowest risk members.

Keep Up the Good Work

Once you see the difference between real coaching and a quick encouragement to “eat better, exercise more,” you’ll want to keep your incentive drives going. As people see their numbers change, that positive reinforcement will help keep them going. Lifestyle changes result in real, measurable health improvement, and that improvement is greatest among employees with the greatest health risks.

The Numbers

This all sounds beautiful in theory, but how can you be certain that you’re getting real, measurable return on investment (ROI)? Here are some quick statistics to help you make the right decision:

Baylor Business recently undertook a study of the Viverae method in over 60 corporate settings. They measured employee MHA and biometric scores over time. Those with a very high initial health risk improved their MHA scores by a stunning 14.8%, and their biometric scores by over 21%.

Baylor also had a look at members who received health coaching versus those who didn’t. Consistent health coaching led to improved MHA and biometric scores. Employees with no coaching were provided with their scores and received written information regarding improving health; their scores improved by an average 2.4% over the course of a Viverae program. Among members who received coaching, scores improved steadily as members were exposed to more coaching – from a 3.1% increase for members who received one session to 7.1% for individuals who received four or more sessions.

The data above is available through a free download of the white paper “ Worksite Wellness: How Engagement Drives Real Health Improvement.”

Viverae has the experience to help you improve your employee health, thus decreasing sick days and increasing both morale and productivity. Let us show you how to keep your costs down and increase work efficiency through real health improvement.  To find out more about our programs and services visit viverae.com.