Upper extremity strength: Normative reference data among uninjured employees.

Background: Extremity strength testing is used to determine the ability of industrial employees to perform a physically demanding occupation safely, evaluate post-injury impairment, and monitor return to function after injury. There is an unmet clinical need for a robust and granular source of normative reference values to serve as a resource for baseline data on upper extremity isometric strength.

Objective: Develop normative reference data for upper extremity strength among industrial employees and investigate associations between strength and physical job demands.

Shoulder injury reduction with post-offer testing.

Objective: This study is an interventional evaluation of a post-offer employment testing. The study is designed to determine if shoulder injury rates are lowered when employees are placed at jobs they demonstrate the physical ability to perform.

Methods: A physical capacity evaluation based testing protocol was utilized to determine if each new employee had the physical work capacity to perform the job for which they were hired.

Ten-year comparison of BMI, body fat, and fitness in the workplace.

Background: Overweight, obestity, and lack of fitness in America is reported to be increasing at an accelerated pace. This national trend has serious health and economic ramifications not only for the general population but also directly for industry. Obesity in the workplace has resulted in increased expenses to industry: directly through increased medical costs and indirectly through decreased productivity.

Post-offer, pre-placement testing in industry.

Background: Pre-placement testing was implemented during World War II. Its current use has been reshaped by economic factors, litigation, legislation, and advances in medicine. In response to a request from a local industry intent upon lowering their work-related injuries, a post-offer screening program was developed and implemented.