commenting cheat sheet

(The comments below are relevant to applicants who have tested poor or fair to the following)

Cardiovascular Fitness

• Applicant tested poor/fair during CV fitness testing, indicative of poor CV fitness, this may increase the risk of fatigue related injuries. Advised applicant to take regular/occasional breaks during physically intensive tasks to reduce the risk of fatigue related injuries.

Sit and Reach

• Applicant tested poor/fair during sit and reach testing, indicative of decreased HS flexibility, this may increase the strain on the applicant’s lower back and spine/ posterior chain. Advised applicant to perform exercises to increase HS flexibility/stretching to reduce the risk of injury to applicants lower back and spine.

Push Ups

• Applicant scored poor/fair during push up testing, indicative of decreased strength and shoulder stability, this may increase the stress on the applicant’s spine and shoulder with forceful, sustained, or repetitive pushing motions. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing forceful sustained/repetitive pushing motions to reduce the risk of injuries to applicant’s spine.

Overhead Press

• Applicant tested poor/fair during overhead press, indicative of decreased strength in the applicant’s chest, shoulder, and upper back, this may increase the risk of strain related injuries to the applicant’s spine and shoulder during sustained tasks overhead. Advised applicant to take regular breaks whilst completing overhead tasks to reduce the risk of injury to the applicant’s spine and shoulder.

Sit Ups

• Applicant tested poor/fair during sit up testing, indicative of decrease abdominal strength, this may increase the risk of stress to the applicant’s spine. Advised applicant to perform exercises to increase abdominal strength to reduce the risk of injury.

Back Extension

• Applicant scored poor/fair during back extension testing, indicative of decreased back strength, this may increase stresses on the spine, during physical tasks such as lifting. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing repetitive or sustained tasks to reduce the risk of injury to applicant’s spine.

Plank

• Applicant scored poor/fair during plank indicative of decreased abdominal strength and endurance, this may increase stresses on the applicant’s spine during physical tasks. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when completing sustained tasks to reduce the risk of injury to applicant’s spine.

Weight

• Applicant had an increased BMI, indicative of increased body mass, this may increase the load/ stresses place on the applicant’s joints. Advised applicant to perform physical activity to decrease BMI and reduce the risk of load/stress related injuries to the applicant’s joints.

Postural Tasks- Squat

• Applicant scored poor/fair during squatting postural task indicative of decrease strength in the applicant’s lower body, this may increase the strain on the applicant’s lower limb and lower back. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing repetitive or sustained squatting tasks and/or adopt alternative posture to reduce strain and minimise risk e.g kneeling to reduce the risk of fatigue related injuries.

Postural Tasks- Stoop

• Applicant scored poor/fair during stooping postural task indicative of decrease strength and endurance in the applicant’s lower back, this may increase the strain on the applicant’s spine. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing sustained stooping tasks to reduce the risk of fatigue related injuries.

Postural Tasks- Overhead

• Applicant scored poor/fair during overhead postural task indicative of decrease strength and endurance in the applicant’s chest, shoulder, and upper back. This may increase the strain on the applicant’s spine and shoulders. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing sustained overhead tasks to reduce the risk of fatigue related injuries.

Manual Handling

• Applicant scored poor/fair during their manual handling assessment indicative of poor technique/ inability to lift required load and may increase the risk of injuries to the applicant’s spine. Advised applicant to take frequent breaks; if HR increased past MHR/ to lift lighter loads; if weight was too heavy to breakdown the load/ use mechanical aids for lifting required weight to reduce the risk of fatigue related injuries during physically intensive lifts.

Balance Testing

• Applicant scored poor/fair during balance testing, indicative of poor balance, this may increase the risk of injuries to the lower limb when navigating uneven/unstable or multilevel surfaces. Advised applicant to perform various balance exercises to increase applicants balance to reduce the risk of lower limb injuries.

Empty Can- Active

• Applicant scored poor/fair during empty can testing, indicative of decrease rotator cuff muscle strength, this may increase the risk of injury to the applicant’s shoulder. Advised applicant to take frequent breaks when completing repetitive tasks such as lifting/ overhead tasks to reduce the risk of injury.

Grip Strength

• Applicant scored poor/fair during grip strength testing, indicative of poor grip strength, this may impact on the ability to perform forceful or sustained gripping tasks, which may increase stresses on upper limb. Advised applicant to take frequent breaks when completing sustained grasping tasks to reduce the risk of injury.

• Make note if poor grip but applicant is able to perform manual handling tasks (e.g. Injury- missing fingers etc)

Squats

• Applicant scored poor/fair during squat testing, indicative of poor lower body strength, this may increase the applicant’s risk of injury to their spine/ lower limb. Advised applicant to take regular breaks when performing repetitive or sustained squatting motions to reduce injury to applicant’s spine.

• Squatting position can be adapted to kneeling/ half kneel positions- usually for injuries/discomfort.

• Sustained 90 degrees- indicative of decreased lower limb strength- advised to strengthen.