Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mark_roberts on January 02, 2006, 04:44:34 pm
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Having just read Teds post it has reminded me of some thoughts I had before Christmas.
Basically I was wondering what we all do to keep ourselves fit, what working practices we have adopted to make the job physically easier and what financial stratagies have you put in place to cover short and longterm illness.
I used to have the plan of just working by myself and building a very profitable one man show but at age 29 I wonder (nearly everyday) if Ill still be physically able to do this job at age 49. I'm giving serious thought to changing my business direction to enable me to take on employees.
Im making immediate plans to start a longterm exercise plan with particular attention to my back and going to revise my financial policies when due.
Any thoughts.
Mark
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Good thoughts you have there Young Mark.
As you all know my back is Capital K'd, I was 51 when I started out in Carpet Cleaning, now knowing what I know, I wish I had never seen it!!
I would say to all of you Young'ns out there, make sure you are out of this job at 50.
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Really, John, even if you had used a power wand (like the Rotovac you've got up for sale) right from the start?
Freddie
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Freddie
The rotovac def' makes things easier, it is not the acual carpet cleaning that gets at me, it is setting up and putting the gear away that is the worse and brings on the pain, when I am using the Rotovac I am leaning forward and that is my most comfortable position.
So the answer is if you have back problems and want to make things easier, BUY MY ROTOVAC !!!
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John
Ever tried yoga or Pilates. May surprise you, however bad your back.
Freddie
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Anyone who suffers from degenerative problems of the spine, should not consider yoga, not that it would be possible for them to participate, anyway.
There are some therapies which could help, but very few capable of administering, or teaching them.
However..........I have offered to supply information to anyone with serious and unresolved issues, before, but Realised later that the wrong e.mail address is in my profile.
It should be ................rob4bowtec@aol.com
rob m
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Thank you for the GOOD advise Rob.
Freddie be careful in what you tell people.
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Hi Mark,
I am 45 and have been cleaning carpets for about 18 years now. The job I had before that was much harder, welding & fabrication, lifting steel beams and putting up metal structures, pipes etc. Even though the work could be physically demanding I always used to work out with weights etc a couple of times a week and did some aerobic exercises, this helped to make the job easier.
When I first started cleaning carpets the hardest part was lifting the machine in and out of the van and up stairs as some of the earlier machines were very heavy and awkward to lift around. You have to work smarter not harder, portables are much more powerful now so you can run hoses from the van or use ramps to get the machine in and out. Look at the design of the machine some are much easier to use than others, think about using glides or lips as these can make it alot easier on your back and give you better dry times. Look at the way you are using the wand and make sure you do not get into the habit of stooping. I have watched some of my cleaners over the years and have found even if they are fairly short they tend to crouch over the wand instead of standing up straight, a bad habit which leads to aching backs. Put skidders under furniture to make things easier to move or have someone with you for those awkward jobs.
I still keep active, I play 5 aside football, table tennis, and I have been playing Sunday league football since last season.
Any form of excersise is better than nothing at all regardless of your profession, it does'nt have to be strenuous either it could be just gentle stretching etc.
There is no reason why you can't be cleaning carpets till you retire, providing you want to of course ;D
Derek.
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the problem that carpet cleaners have has nothing to do with lifting heavy equipment.
it happens because you spend 4 hours a day wth you left leg forward and your right leg back at 90 degrees, then you push your wieght through your hips in a constant anti-clockwise motion :-[ :-[
i'll give you this information for free even though it cost me 8 visits & £650 at the chiropractor :-\ :-\
his advise was to take the grab handle of my wand on use it left handed
well worth £650......NOT
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First of all..........I don't have anything to do with, or would ever have anything to do with Chiropractic.
My back problems started long before I started c/c, in my teens, in fact, when I was diognosed with arthritis in my right hip.
What was missed in over thirty years of physiotherapy and osteopathy was the cause of the arthritis and this only became apparent when I got to around 54 and started training in spinal re alignment and relaxation therapies.
Mike comes close, with his comments, but the reality is more to do with alignment and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that lifting, or manouvering heavy articles is quite definitely the most likely way to damage your back .
In my first job, I worked with 3 men in their middle 60's, all of whom amazed me, by their ability to shovel, dig and rake throughout the day, all with one foot well forward of the other and twisting their bodies to lift and shovel heavy sand or gravel upwards and onto trailers.
They obviously had no skeletal misalignment problems, whereas I at just 16 was suffering unexplainable pain in my back.
Since the cause was pointed out to me and corrective treatment administered, my quality of life has improved immensely, but at 61, the sciatic and spinal compression damage was present for too long and will only continue to degenerate, but..........although I was abandoned by osteopathy and physiotherapy 7 years ago, I have more flexibility now, than 7 years ago and can still do a 5 hour clean, but I will suffer and really should'nt
The best exercise you can possibly do, is walking or swimming.
As usual, I merely quote my lifes experiences in the hope that some may benefit, realising I will often sound opinionated, but I just quote the reality, as I've experienced it.
r m
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I suffered from chronic back ache up until 15 years ago. When the medical profession couldn't help me, and I grew tired of the ever-present pain, popping pills that became increasingly ineffective, I tried yoga.
Yoga had been recommended to me years previously, but I dismissed it as an Eastern fad that was gaining popularity with celebrities. However it worked for me, and I have heard stories from many who were worse off than I was who have literally thrown away their walking sticks.
Some years down the line I tried Pilates, with its emphasis on strengthening the smaller interior muscles around the trunk for better posture. This also worked for me. Now I can't do without at least 20 mins of Pilates each morning/day just to warm-up, stretch and relax my muscles.
Of course I acknowledge, and it goes without saying, that no one therapy is good for everyone. A good experienced practitioner will be able to assess your needs and suitability of their therapy to those needs. And if what they are saying doesn't gel with you, walk away and find another.
Lifestyle is also an issue in back ache. I felt (almost) instantly better when I gave up a diet of mainly processed foods, for a diet containing foods which actually made your bowels move 2-4 times a day. Toxins are better removed from your body at the earliest opportunity.
But I did get instant relief from my ache when I stopped smoking. The carbon monoxide poison, as well as resticting my oxygen intake was doing me more harm than I ever would have believed possible.
Back ache is now something I speak of in the past tense, but I never forget the pain. That keeps me from falling back into bad habits. I'm glad I made the decision to make the change years ago. The alternative would have been take my pills and then try and find a comfortable enough position to enjoy a fAg. No contest!
Do the research, arrive at your own conclusions.
Happ new year
Freddie
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just to add to johns comments about the rotovac. if you are concerned about future back problemms and want a power wand invest a bit more and get the dri master much lighter and no effort to use. pete
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Thanks for that Carpetclean although does nothing for sale of Rotovac.
Therapist
My problem is Spinal Stenosis caused by degeneration, I was abandoned by the Physio-terrorists after 3 visits they were scared they may do more damage than good, I visit The Pain Clinic on 20th January if that fails it is Major Surgery.
Got my Disabled Parking permit 2 weeks ago.
Some folk think they have back problems, WAIT until you cannot walk without any PAIN!!
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Hi Guys,
My sympathy to you guys with your bad backs.
A few thoughts ,
Being fit must be an advantage , it is in everything else!
Swimming is excellent exercise , I swam competitively as kid and it has stood me in good stead.
When I have tried truckmounts one of my first impressions was this vacuum is so powerful it must strain /damage my backin the long term.However with glides it is so much easier.
I 've always cleaned left as well as right handed to even myself up.
Smoking is an absolute killer. :'(
My new years resolution to drink less and lose 2 stones. :o
Cheers
Doug
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Freddie
Much better post, with which I have no complaint. When you refer to years of chronic back pain, you don't say if it was ever properly diagnosed, this being the weakness, not only in the NHS but within osteopathic and chiropractic circles.
As I mentioned, the proper diagnosis of the problem I suffered was only made, by an exceptional man, 30 odd years late and after years of hell and expense and frustration.
I agree that Pilates is excellent, but, you have to get the pelvic and spinal alignment issue sorted first.
Also, your comments about diet and lifestyle are spot on.
John
I got my parking permit four years ago, so you'll have an idea, how bad my back is. I was diagnosed as having a variety of spinal problems, the worst being, compression of th spine, which is.....generally speaking.....the end of the road, in the opinion of all the professionals.
That's when I was fortunate enough to find a gent' who'd spent a considerable time digging a little deeper than the available training and developing an accurate assessment and treatment for badly aligned bodies.
After treatment and subsequent training, I now have far greater flexibility in a previously rigid spine and, although I really should'nt, I still do s ome c/c.
The purpose of this post, is to, hopefully reassure c/c with concerns about their future health and give hope to those who think, it's all over.
rob m
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Just read Doug's comments and would point out that, I played squash 5 times per week until the pain forced me to stop, continued to practice real martial arts 'till 4 years ago, when hip replacement stopped me'
Fitter and stronger than guys less than half my age............I also have a wonderful young wife of 38 and my youngest girl is 12.
But ...........I have a sore back! Soooooooooooooooo !
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Got a spell in my little finger today, hurt really bad! but reading other peoples problems puts things into perspective!!!!!
good luck to you all
kind regards Phil
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Mark,
From the age of 11, I have engaged in moutaineering and road and Fell running and still do all three, though not so much road running now, after 25 marathons. I started carpet cleaning in 1980 when I was 34 and thought I wouldnt be able to do it by the time I reached 45. Well Im cleaning more carpets than ever now and im 60 this April, though it does leave a bit knackered to go out running EVERY night, so I settle for a couple of runs a week and the occasional race.
A fellow Fell runner ahd to give the sport for 5 years because of his back and thought he would never run again (hes a brickie) then he was introduced to Yoga and managed to restart running. He had a very successful Fell season last summer.
I have an income protection policy with Alico. They even refund all your premiums at age 65, minus anything you have claimed during the policy term.
Dave.
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After Talking to John last week I began to wonder if my plan to work until I am 70 is viable.
Although I have two enterprises both are tough on the back and arms.
Ideally I would like to diversify more but there are only a certain numbers of hours in the day.
Also strong Competion makes it hard to build up Cash Surpluses.
Daves post is encouragging but I am not as fit as he is, never been a runner.
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I think the real thing you need is mental fitness, you can always get a labourer to do the hard work but loose your marbles and you're knackered.
my perfect solution would be for my son to take over the actual cleaning and I do all the sales & admin.
mike