• Fitness Counseling
Based on the Assessment above stretches and exercises are prescribed to build core strength and address individual needs.

• Nutritional Counseling (Group or individual)
A speaker on the topic will address a group about the importance of what and how much we consume followed by Q&A or a nutritionist will meet with each individual and discuss their diet and recommend lifestyle changes. Ideally the group will be addressed and those seeking further information will follow up by appointment.

• Fitness Training (Individual or Group)
On an ongoing basis clients may meet with a personal trainer, either to re-evaluate and alter the exercise routine or more frequently to motivate and aid in achieving goals more rapidly.

• Cholesterol

Why? Did you know that 1 in 5 people have high cholesterol? Anyone can have it, even the active, thin and young. High total cholesterol, so-called 'bad' cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, or LDL) levels and other fats known as triglycerides in a person's bloodstream can lead to heart attack and stroke, which claim a life every 33 seconds.

What? The cholesterol reading allows the technician to educate the client about their health risk and what lifestyle changes may be required to improve their health

How? Our compact system uses a single drop of blood (fingerstick) on a disposable test cassette and takes just five minutes to generate a lab-accurate, comprehensive measurement of a patient’s cholesterol levels. (cholestech.com)

• Glucose

Why? In the last few years there has been a 27 percent increase in Diabetes and 5.2 million people are unaware that they have it. High blood sugar levels can contribute to blindness, kidney disease, lose of limbs, heart disease and death. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. At least 20.1 million people in the United States (21.1% of the population), ages 40 to 74, have pre-diabetes. Complications of the disease were responsible for nearly 70,000 deaths in 2000.
Research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes, and that if you take action to manage your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.

What? Analysis of the client’s blood sugar level allows the technician to advise and educate the client about his or her risk for pre-diabetes and diabetes.

How? We use a glucose meter that requires the world’s smallest blood sample (3/10 of a microliter). It also allows us to sample from a number of less painful sites on the body rather than just the fingertip. Results are given in about 7 seconds. (therasense.com)

• Grip Strength

Why? Approximately 28 million people in the US either have or are at risk of developing Osteoporosis. It is estimated that by 2020, over 50 million will be affected. Osteoporosis leads to 1.5 million fractures & $18 billion in healthcare costs each year.

What? One’s overall grip strength is an important indicator of overall upper body strength. This measurement not only provides a neuromuscular assessment but also an idea of upper body bone strength.

How? The participant squeezes a dynamometer using each hand several times. The highest readings are added together and compared to norms based on age and gender.

• Skin Care & Cancer Prevention

Why? Did you know that 80% of the sun damage to our skin occurs by the age of 18? This damage can increase our risk for skin cancers. As we get older, the damage that is invisible now will become more visible as wrinkles, brown spots and reddening. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime. We can actively reduce our risk of further skin damage and skin cancer with prevention, early detection and treatment.

What? Clients, with the assistance of our technicians, are easily able to identify problem areas of their skin. This test provides an overview of skin cancer and skin care, with an emphasis on the importance of taking sun precautions and actively monitoring changes in the skin. Our technicians aid in understanding; what is seen, how sun damage increases your risk for skin cancer, and how to prevent more skin damage from happening. Ever wonder if you’re protecting yourself properly? Our test will show whether you are sufficiently protecting your skin with your use of moisturizers, foundations and/or sunscreens.

How? By looking at a mirror inside a simple box, called a Dermascan that uses ultraviolet (UV) light one can see where sun damage has already occurred yet is invisible to the naked eye.

• Body Composition

Why? Research indicates that fat loss, not weight loss, can extend human longevity. Weight alone is not a clear indicator of good health, because it does not distinguish between pounds that come from body fat and those that come from lean body mass or muscle. Obesity puts a person at risk for many serious medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes, gall bladder disease, gastro-intestinal disease, sexual dysfunction, osteoarthritis, stroke and even certain forms of cancer. In fact, obesity
contributes to at least half the chronic diseases in western society.

What? The client is educated as to how their body fat percentage relates to their health.

How? Our body fat tester is precise, portable, quick and only requires a one-site measurement to determine overall percent body fat. No skinfold pinching, fasting, underwater weighing, electrodes or disrobing is needed.

• Sit and Reach (A measure of Flexibility)

Why? In addition to making normal activities possible and pain-free, flexible muscles relieve stress, promote good posture, and reduce the frequency, severity and risk of pain and injury. One of the many possible outcomes of poor flexibility and weak muscles in the back, hips, and thighs are spinal mal-alignment which puts pressure on spinal nerves.

What? The technician evaluates the flexibility of the client and recommends stretches and/or exercises to improve range of motion.

How? The starting position is sitting on the floor with shoes removed, feet flat against a box and legs straight. The client will be ask to reach forward and push the fingers along the box as far as possible several times.

• Vital signs

Why? Vital signs can identify the existence of acute medical problems and are a marker of chronic disease states.

What? The technician takes the clients vital signs and indicates what they may suggest about the particular client’s health.

How? Pulse: Your pulse is taken by touching one of several "pulse points", areas where the arteries are near enough to the surface of the skin that movement of blood through them can be felt.
Temperature: We use a special thermometer which can quickly measure the temperature of the eardrum.
Blood Pressure: Although not considered a vital sign, we include this for “above & beyond” service. See “Blood Pressure” for further information.

• Blood Pressure

Why? In 2000, high blood pressure was directly related to the deaths of 44,619 Americans and indirectly with another 210,000 deaths. That’s an increased of 40 percent over the past 10 years. A growing number of children are being diagnosed, more than 50 million people over age six, 1 in 4 adults and two-thirds of those over 65 have the condition. The rate of hypertension among the poor or uninsured may be underestimated due to inadequate access to medical care.

Untreated, hypertension will continue to rise causing the heart to overwork itself and serious damage can occur. Such as: the heart muscle can thicken (hypertrophy) and function abnormally, or dilate and constrict less forcefully (dilated cardiomyopathy); heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure; sudden cardiac death); stroke; hardened arteries (atherosclerosis); aneurysm (a weakness in the artery wall where it balloons out to more than 1.5 times its normal size and is in danger of rupturing), often resulting in sudden cardiac death; kidney failure and retinopathy (loss of vision)

What? The client’s blood pressure is taken and they are counselled as to the implication of the results.

How? We use an instrument called a sphygmomanometer which consists of a cuff that can be filled with air, a hollow rubber bulb that pumps the air, and a pressure gauge. After placing the cuff around the upper arm, the technician holds a stethoscope over the artery just below the cuff. Next, air is pumped into the cuff, stopping the flow of blood through the artery. Then, air is slowly let out of the cuff, letting the blood flow again.

• Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

Why? PFT is a painless test for measuring lung (pulmonary) function. Screening for the presence of obstructive and restrictive diseases may help confirm and determine the severity of lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, fibrosing alveolitis and sarcoidosis. This is important since many kinds of lung problems can be successfully treated if detected early.

What? By measuring the speed and volume of air expelled from the lungs the technician will be able to detect below normal results and may alert the client to an unnoticed problem.

How? First, the client’s basic information (height, weight, age and sex) is recorded to establish what a normal reading should be. Information about current or recent lung infections will also be obtained, because an active infection could interfere with the test results. The client is asked to take as deep a breath as possible, holding the breath, and then expelling the air as forcefully as possible into a disposable tube. This will be repeated several times to get an average reading. The tube is attached to a measures how much air the patient is able to expel.

• Vision Screening

Why? Each year, more than 50,000 Americans lose their sight, and nearly half of these individuals go blind needlessly. By receiving annual vision screening, the incidences of tragic vision loss can be precluded. Screenings done on a regular basis not only confirm healthy eyes; they also can detect early signs of eye disease (such as macular degeneration) that require treatment. Eye fatigue and headaches can often be prevented with proper visual correction.

What? Based on how well you can see an eye chart, we can determine if a more detailed test is necessary.

How? You will be asked to read an eye chart to the best of your ability using each eye.

For more information about the screenings we conduct please see

• Microbe Awareness (Hand Washing Awareness)

Why? Hands are the number one transmitter of communicable disease. Most people don’t fully understand the tremendous impact that regular, thorough hand washing can have on disease rates, especially in the back-to-school and hospital environments. When you touch doorknobs, money, etc., you’re picking up and spreading everyday germs like E. coli or simply the common cold. Children usually have the worst hand washing practices, carrying these germs to school, spreading them to each other and their families. This can cause cumulative effects throughout the community. Adults need to be aware of their hand washing practices, as well. We can’t change others’
bad habits but we can change our own.

What? We will show you how quickly and broadly germs can be spread in a short period of time. We will show you the proper way to wash your hands thoroughly and you will learn how important it is to wash your hands regularly

How? By simply applying a liquid to your hands and looking at your hands under an ultra-violet light.

• Cardiovascular Testing

Why? Heart disease is our society’s number one killer. It is of major importance to know our cardiovascular fitness level. Cardiovascular fitness is a determinant of your risk for heart attack.

What? A heart rate measurement is taken after a short bout of exercise & compared to norms.

How? The individual is asked to step up to and down from a small box continuously for three minutes all the while maintaining a specific tempo.

Equipment used:

Blood Pressure: Automatic Cuff and/or Manual Cuff
Body Composition: Futrex 5000 A/WL
Cholesterol: Cholestech
Glucose: Freestyle Flash
Grip Strength: Jamar
Pulmonary Function: Spirometer
Skin Damage: Dermascan