[Jeff Brimble]

Does this topic interest anyone or would I be wasting our time ?

[Tosh]

No, I'm interested; my right-elbow has been playing up and I'm taking a glucosamine supplement (vegitarian mind you) to see if that helps.

Crack on, Jeff.  I'd love to hear what you have to say.

[Sir Squeaky]

Don't ask.

I've only just started back at work after nearly 5 weeks off with a trapped nerve in my neck and tendon and muscle problems in my arm and shoulder.

I was in immense pain like I can't describe for a few weeks, even when sat still.
Painkillers wouldn't touch it.

I'm back to doing 3 or 4 hour days now.
It's been widely diagnosed as caused by my job.
Carrying ladders, scrubbing above my head etc...

That's why as of monday I'm WFP.
It's going to be lot less strain.
I couldn't carry on as I was.

Rog.

[*foxman]

Squeaks, did you ever work with a damp scrim on your shoulder? i used to get a bit of jip in mine which i put down to that, but it could be just coincidence.

[Jeff Brimble]

Its a difficult topic cause not many will admit to the odd twinge.
Unger recognised RSI and brought out their ergotec range of squegees for trad use etc. There may not be much info out there from a wfp/trad  perspective. I think the manufacturers could contribute bit wont.
I will put into this topic as much as I can but its got to be a combined effort and the results may not be what you want to hear. There is some info on pros but I cannot put a link in, but I could copy and paste if anyone does not, or cannot go there. But you a large tract of info might find it boring ?

This topic comes with a disclaimer, most sites wont talk about health issue so do not rely on any of the replies here seek your own advice from your GP
Could I suggest that its brought back up the board say on a weekly or monthly basis otherwise it wont be a live topic and will drop down the board forgotten like the other topic on Pros.

[marc]

i have tennis elbow and in a lot of pain some times (wfp)did have acupunture not so bad now if i keep it straped up

[Sir Squeaky]

Squeaks, did you ever work with a damp scrim on your shoulder? i used to get a bit of jip in mine which i put down to that, but it could be just coincidence.

No!
Surely you'd make your top wet and dirty.
That's what pouches are for!

[Terry_Burrows]

from time to time,my shoulders can give me great pain,across the top back
this comes at no particular time or scale,I never put a damp scrim on them years ago,so not sure y

[Bazzy1999]

Call me stupid but what is RSI 

[Sir Squeaky]

It's just wear and tear Terry.
Like I've always said, no matter how you work, this job will get to you in the end.

I've only been doing it 9 and a half years and I'm a wreck already.

[Sir Squeaky]

Call me stupid but what is RSI 

Really silly injury.

Actually it's Repetitive Strain Injury.

[Sir Squeaky]

WFP is just as bad, with your neck tilted back all day you soon know about it. I've never figured out while poleing i get thirsty very quickly? Anyone else?

Great, I've got an iffy neck and starting WFP on monday.

[NWH]

Standing back further stopped my neck aching so much,that`s why i got a superlite pole really cuts down on the strain.

[Bazzy1999]

keep your mouth closed when polling then it wont dry up... thats my tip..

Bazz...

[Bazzy1999]

Call me stupid but what is RSI 

Really silly injury.

Actually it's Repetitive Strain Injury.

I think i know what you mean now.. cheers Rog

[Chris A]

Terry, I think it's the mullet that's done youre back in.
Chris

[Jeff Brimble]

Standing further back than normal does help. But not if you have a heavy pole that creates more muscle strain on your shoulders.
A wfp can save you falling off, but becomes a demon as you realise you can go a little faster and do. Working longer increases your income but also increases the risk of damage from using muscles longer and for different purposes to what they were intended for. When trad you tend to use many more muscles than with a wfp so maybe with wfp the risk increases.
I believe that with a wfp you should slow down and do less work than you are able, but still earn the same or slightly more. Its a balance. Take breaks each hour, do some paperwork/collecting etc instead. Do complete warm up excercises and equally important relaxation ones,as would an athlete. At the end of the day do cool down ones. If you read up on RSI, it can happen to any job even a pc mouse can cause agony. They will also reccomend all over body excercises, even if you just get probs from using a squegee.

[*foxman]

A wfp can save you falling off, but becomes a demon as you realise you can go a little faster and do. Working longer increases your income but also increases the risk of damage from using muscles longer and for different purposes to what they were intended for. When trad you tend to use many more muscles than with a wfp so maybe with wfp the risk increases.

Very true. Using WFP you use the same small group of muscles for hours and hours each day, trad cleaning if like a full body workout compared.

keep your mouth closed when polling then it wont dry up... thats my tip..

Bazz, have you had the thirst thing too? i've also considered the running water sound all day as a cause! Good tip.

[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

Hi Folks,

Now I have negatives and positives on WFP RSI

When I was trad I suffered a stiff back in the mornings.  A slightly painfull knee and a pian full foot.  All that seems to have gone. But.....

Just lately I have developed a painfull right elbow ad acheing arms - my kneck is not too bad -  I think it's down to over reaching with the pole with me.  Now with me using my Backpack all the time, if I over reach (not put my pole up high enough) then I not only have to push up the pole but my shoulders lift the Backpack up too.

David

[Jason Atwell]

I think this is a really interesting and relevant thread, which concerns us all, but seriously can you see everyone doing warm-up and cool down exercises, at the end of the day, the human body is like anything else, wear and tear in a physical job will get to everyone, but then on the other hand, the exercise also does you good, i know what i prefer, and its not sat in a office with risk assesments for my chair and desk, like at my mrs work!