Victoria has been with CUC for 8 years. Her role within CUC’s MoveSafe Program is a MoveSafe Leader, and the MoveSafe Program Coordinator.

How long has your company been participating in the MoveSafe Program?

8 years. Since 2015. The program started right around the same time I started, so I have gotten to be here through it all.

What benefits have you seen for your company?

Decreased soft tissue injuries. The reason for MoveSafe’s implemented in 2015 was because there was a rise in soft tissue injuries, specifically back injuries. With the MoveSafe program we have seen a decrease in soft tissue injuries.

What are some of the benefits you have experienced personally?

Personally, it has kept me active. Usually/previously I would just sit at my desk all day and not typically move besides for lunch, or water and bathroom breaks… but now I am more conscious of what I do and how long I sit. Now, after about an hour or so I’m like ok, time to get up, get some movement and a stretch within that time. Also, even with just taking bathroom breaks I’ll do some lunges on the way to the bathroom to optimize that movement opportunity.

Another benefit is that I have taken it home. With my children, at least the oldest one, I get him to get up and stretch if he’s been sitting for too long playing games in his room, or suggest taking a break outside. I also correct him when I notice him hunching his back.  

Are you physically active, or participate in a regular hobby?

Recently I have gotten back into jogging, and while my son is doing his football training I try to move around and not just sit there doing nothing.

Do you incorporate MoveSafe?

Definitely, I do MoveSafe warm-up before going for my run, or walk. And I’m thinking about it when I move around watching my son’s sports.

What is your favourite exercise?

Core push-pulls or back extensions, those are my two favourite. Especially if sitting for too long, the back extension really feels good.

If you were speaking to someone about MoveSafe/introducing them to MoveSafe, what would you say?

Oh I’ve done this many times, I usually introduce that it is the MoveSafe program that we do at CUC, it helps us stay active and properly position our bodies, and get the body warmed up for work to ensure that we do not have soft tissue injuries. And it is also for admin/office staff as well. Just because we are not outside doing anything, doesn’t mean we cannot get soft tissue injuries as well, such as carpal tunnel and other repetitive strain injuries.

What Has Been Your Biggest Take Away From The Training?

My biggest takeaway is always the amount of times you bend in a day (300-500 times). So I always keep that in the back of my head like ok, I bend everytime I do this so I need to make sure that I have my wide stable base, I’m hinging at the hips, and my shoulders are anchored. So that really stuck in my head.

And also “text neck”! That has stuck in my head. Remembering to hold my phone in a way that I won’t be hunching forward to look at it.

Oh, and also that I’m not just picking up a pen I dropped, I’m also picking up half of my body weight. That has also stuck in my head.

What Is Your Favourite Thing About MoveSafe?

My favourite thing is just moving. And it helps that MoveSafe has set exercises for us to follow. And that you let us know what the benefits of each movement are, and why we do it, and just that we have the help/guidance for what to do and why to do it. Long story short, my favourite thing is the warm-up exercises.