Employee health and wellbeing assessments
The Human Performance Unit provides expert sport science support to individuals, teams and coaches wanting to enhance their performance.
Our employee health and wellbeing assessments are underpinned by the scientific principles of sport and exercise science and evidenced by our work with elite level organisations and athletes. They are designed to give employees an accurate insight into their physical and mental health and ultimately improve engagement and productivity in the workforce.
Physical screening and health status assessment
The aim of our health screening is to develop an understanding of the continued health and wellbeing in your workplace. Our screenings are not just about workforce assessment, they are a proactive approach to ensuring productivity, wellbeing and engagement.
Employees often experience unique work-related challenges which can contribute to health concerns, such as:
- prolonged periods of sedentary behaviour
- work-related stress
- irregular working hours
Engaging in health screening can generate valuable insights into the specific needs of those within the business and inform future workplace health initiatives, policies and support systems aimed at improving staff well-being and reducing health risks.
Our discrete and professional assessments are confidential and do not discriminate between employees.
What’s Involved?
Our team are specialists in:
- physical activity
- clinical science
- physiology
- nutrition
- strength and conditioning
- sport therapy
We will work with your organisation and provide a detailed overview of workforce health.
Once we’ve understood your company’s needs, we can create a bespoke set of assessments. Some examples of our physical screening assessments are provided below:
Anthropometric data
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| Height |
Standing height (cm) |
This information is used in various calculations to ensure the accuracy of results. |
| Mass |
Body mass (kg) |
This is a useful general measure of health and is required to ensure the accuracy of testing and equations. |
|
Waist: Hip Ratio
|
Waist circumference (cm)
Hip Circumference (cm)
Waist: Hip Ratio (ratio)
|
This is an indicator of central obesity and clinical predictor of cardiovascular disease. |
| Body Mass Index |
- |
This is a general measure of health with clinical relevance to chronic disease risk. |
| Body Composition |
Bioelectrical impedance derived body composition (%) |
This is a more precise measure of body composition performed by a qualified clinical practitioner. |
| Body Composition |
Sum of skinfolds body composition (%)*
|
This is a more precise measure of body composition performed by a qualified clinical practitioner. |
* If required.
Cardio-respiratory health
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| Blood Pressure |
Blood pressure (mm Hg) |
This is an indicator of general cardiovascular health and can identify hypertension and hypotension. |
| Resting Heart Rate |
Heart Rate (BPM) |
This is an indicator of general cardiovascular efficiency and fitness. |
| Blood Sugar |
Blood Glucose (mmol/L) |
This is a measure of metabolic health and energy regulation. It can also provide early detection of diabetes and insulin resistance. |
| Blood cholesterol |
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)
LDL cholesterol (mmol/L)
HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)
|
This is a key indicator of cardiovascular health and can help differentiate between good (High-Density Lipoprotein) and bad (Low-density Lipoprotein) cholesterol which can identify risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. |
| Spirometry |
FVC (L)
FEV1 (L)
FVC/FEV1 ratio (ratio)
|
This process allows assessment of lung function and respiratory health, which can be used to assess respiratory health in relation to normative data and detect lung function decline. |
| Aerobic Capacity |
Predicted VO2 Max* |
This provides a measure of general cardiovascular fitness and aerobic capacity.
|
*Aerobic capacity test can be selected based on employee activity levels and/or work-associated demands, with options including an intermittent shuttle walking test, Harvard Step Test or a full maximal aerobic capacity assessment with breath-by-breath gas analysis.
Musculoskeletal health
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| Selective Functional Movement Assessment |
Scored assessment of 13 key movements (#) |
This clinical movement assessment process can be used to identify area of musculoskeletal dysfunction, provide indication of potential injury risk, and inform musculoskeletal health interventions. |
| Balance Assessment |
Centre of pressure distance (mm)
Centre of pressure velocity (mm/s)
Asymmetry (%)
|
This provides an objective measurement of postural control and balance. It also provides insight into any balance asymmetries and can evaluate risk of falling. |
| Grip Strength |
Grip strength (N/kg)
Asymmetry (%)
|
This provides a simple measure of strength and function and can be used to quantify general musculoskeletal health. |
| Lower body maximal force assessment* |
Force (N/kg)
Asymmetry (%)
|
Force plate assessment can objectively measure lower limb force production providing insight into muscular strength and power. This can be used to quantify musculoskeletal health and provide an indication of potential injury risk. |
| Individual muscle/movement isometric strength assessment** |
Force (N/kg)
Asymmetry (%)
|
Force plate assessment can objectively measure lower limb force production providing insight into muscular strength and power. This can be used to quantify musculoskeletal health and provide an indication of potential injury risk. |
*More comprehensive and detailed force-time analysis can be undertaken upon request.
**Our specialist clinical staff can create bespoke isometric muscle assessment based on your specific workplace demands.
Physical activity analysis
This validated inventory can be used to quantify physical activity levels, identify health risk, and guide intervention planning.Time (hours)Our team of biomechanists can develop bespoke assessment and monitoring strategies using IMUs to quantify the demands of specific workplace activities and tasks in order to provide insight into the physical demands of specific activities.
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| IPAQ |
Score (#) |
| Sedentary time |
These measures can be used to further quantify risk associated with sedentary time, musculoskeletal strain, and eye heath. |
| Screen time |
Time (hours)
|
These measures can be used to further quantify risk associated with sedentary time, musculoskeletal strain, and eye heath. |
| Workstation time |
Time (hours)
|
These measures can be used to further quantify risk associated with sedentary time, musculoskeletal strain, and eye heath. |
| Inertial Measurement Unit Assessment* |
A range of biomechanical variables can be collected based on need
|
* If requested.
Wellbeing
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| WHO-5 Wellbeing Index |
Score (#) |
This validated inventory is used to monitor and quantify mental health and wellbeing to inform strategies aimed at impacting absenteeism and presenteeism. |
| Physical Health Questionnaire |
Score (#) |
This validated inventory is used to quantify general health status and identify risk of chronic disease, improve workplace health and safety, support wellness, and inform return-to-work strategies. |
Dietary analysis
| Assessment |
Measurement(s) |
Utility |
| Basel metabolic rate calculation |
BMR (kcal) |
This can be used to assess energy requirements, individualise nutritional interventions, assess health risk, and aid weight management and obesity prevention. |
Where does the screening take place?
Our physical screening can be delivered on-campus at our Kedleston Road site. Making the most of our specialist sports science facilities and equipment allows us to treat employees like elite athletes.
Cost: from £50 - £100 per person (depending on company size and selected tests)
How long does it take?
The exact timings of a full health screen will depend on which assessments are included.
The general baseline health screen takes approximately one hour per person; however, we can cater for larger cohorts by conducting the screening process using our team of specialist sport and exercise scientists. For example, we have the capacity to complete assessments for a group of five in a 60-minute slot.
Some of the screening will take place prior to your visit though electronic data collection.
If you would like to book any of these tests, please contact the Human Performance Unit team: hpu@derby.ac.uk
