[jimlaffo]

Evening fellas. Do any of you get many aches and strains doing WFP? I did trad for over 5 years, but majority of my work now is on WFP which I've been using for over 12 months now. I'd never go back, but I definitely suffer with repetitive strains. For over 6 months I've had terrible pain in my left thigh and sometimes my right arm also. My leg seems to be getting worse, and I'm now booked in for physio (tomorrow night). I've used a CLX-27 since I started, and with most possibly a poor posture etc. I don't think it's been a good combination!
I'm gonna buy another pole and wanted a second opinion. I'm tied between a SLX 18 or Extreme 18. Is there much difference between the 2? Is an Extreme worth the extra £150? Any info would be great.
Cheers!

[brianbarber]

I am using two extremes,18 and a 25

Very expensive but if you need light poles they fit the bill.
Be prepared to replace every two years subject to use and how well you look after and maintain them.
 Also, to get the maximum benefit try the extreme brushes,
   Maybe try an extreme brush with current pole, this will make a big differ be even before you go over to extreme poles.

Mr B

[Cookie]

From reading previous posts on here I would recommend you go for an SLX  since the Extreme tends to be more fragile and more easily breakable. If you have bungalows on your round I would suggest you put the extra £150 towards a CLX-10 - I did this and is has made a difference - it's also better for working in tight spaces.

Also I found that putting cushioned insoles in my boots reduced the aches & pains in my legs.

[Matt.]

I absolutely love the extreme 47, there not as fragile as there made out to be

If anyone has bought an extreme and don't want it no more I will buy it .......... At a reduced price of course 

[dazmond]

would you rather have hardly any aches and pains at all?then buy xtreme poles and brushes.

they are worth it for less strain all around during your working day.

YES!they are more expensive!

YES!you will replace them more often!(18-24 months used every day)

ive been using them for years now and never snapped a section.i shut windows with em and ive dropped them dozens of times!

easier working day for sure using these poles.go for it.

[jimlaffo]

Cheers. I forgot to mention that I use the xtreme brushes, I noticed a huge difference with them and wouldn't look back. I now use the old super lite medium on the CLX for fascias, cons roofs etc but xtreme brushes for all windows.
Although I'm very tempted to pay the extra for an xtreme pole, I've just been reading some very positive reviews for the SLX-18. I'm not fully decided but I'm edging towards SLX now.

[dazmond]

at 18ft an slx will be a good choice.i need a  25ft to reach most of my work so i think the xtreme is worth it at 25ft and above.

[slap bash]

Repetitive strain is caused more by short sharp movements so try do longer strokes. \Techneek plays a large roll in this matter.

[dazmond]

try a bit of stretching/yoga in the morning before you start and again in the evening.even 10 mins will make a difference.

dont grip the pole too tightly

use a rocking motion when cleaning upper windows.

take cod liver oil with glucosamine every day

get a massage a few times a month

dont work more than 6 or 7 hours "on the glass" a day 4 or 5 days a week

have a few holidays abroad a year in 4 or 5 star hotels with jacuzzi/health spa etc and RELAX,swim and light exercise in the gym.eat well etc.fully recharge your batteries!

[AuRavelling79]

If you are using a CLX27 for everything then stop now! It weighs 1.72kg plus brush and hose.

Keep it and use it for the higher stuff when you need to.

Use an SLX22 for everything else. Weight 1.22kg plus brush and hose.

An CLX27 weight 40% more than an SLX22

Even a CLX22 would improve things. It weighs 1.38kg

Now an extreme 22 is even lighter

[Jonny 87]

would you rather have hardly any aches and pains at all?then buy xtreme poles and brushes.

they are worth it for less strain all around during your working day.

YES!they are more expensive!

YES!you will replace them more often!(18-24 months used every day)

ive been using them for years now and never snapped a section.i shut windows with em and ive dropped them dozens of times!

easier working day for sure using these poles.go for it.

^^^

Give this man a biscuit.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[jonboywalton75]

Slx 18 and extreme 18, had both
Slx is my recommendation

[jimlaffo]

Only got back from holiday a few weeks ago Dazmond! No hols now until next year, although I'll try and take 2 weeks off for Christmas and New Year. I'll see what the physio tells me tomorrow, I'm really hoping he gives me a good excerise/ stretching routine to work on and I'll make sure I go for regular appointments.
An SLX-18 will manage about 75% of my work so it'll get plenty of usage. For the rest I have shortened a SLX-39 to make a SLX-25, but I've found the closed length of 1.72m a bit clumsy/ awkward but it'll be fine on all my other work that the 18 won't reach.
Cheers for your comments.

[NWH]

With WFP and repetitive strain it's not just the weight as you may think it's like you say it's the repetition of the work,pain in your leg may be due to lower back and hip flexor strain. The muscle and tendon that tie into your glutes over the hip and into the thigh can cause leg and lower back pain though sometimes it doesn't feel like it's coming from that area,I have a sports massage for an hour or hour and a half every 3-4 weeks to keep loosened up and strain free from work. Even if you change sides when working it won't stop you getting pains and strains and the lightest poles will help on the inner and outer elbow strain it won't eliminate it,there are exercises you can do every night on the floor when watching telly etc that will click your back and keep you loose but you would need to be talked through or shown them. The longer you go without a good massage the stiffer and tighter your body can become,I tend these days from time to time to get tight calfs which can cause heel pain due to the way we stand when working,again massage is the key and I would rerecommend a good sports massage over an osteopath if the muscles are tight and you get clicked and snapped by an osteopath the tight muscles will pull you back out of line again. This is coming from someone who has seen every osteopath massage therapist there is lol.

[jimlaffo]

Thanks NWH! I know it's not all about the weight but going from an CLX-27 to a SLX-18 can only benefit my aches an strains. I hope so anyway, as well as regular physio, that should hopefully sort my woes out!

[Mike #1]

try a bit of stretching/yoga in the morning before you start and again in the evening.even 10 mins will make a difference.

dont grip the pole too tightly

use a rocking motion when cleaning upper windows.

take cod liver oil with glucosamine every day

get a massage a few times a month

dont work more than 6 or 7 hours "on the glass" a day 4 or 5 days a week

have a few holidays abroad a year in 4 or 5 star hotels with jacuzzi/health spa etc and RELAX,swim and light exercise in the gym.eat well etc.fully recharge your batteries!

That's the ticket Dr Daz 

[Walter Mitty]

Normally I would say that the slx would be fine, but if you're having problems, get the lighter xtreme.
Keep hold of the clx27 for higher work and use it for pushing windows shut.

[Dave Willis]

I've always found a good massage makes me stiffer 

Holidays give me stress particulary when I come home - still haven't caught up!

Extreme poles - great.

[Shane sharples]

Go to the gym and get fitter/stronger , I work with a clx 27 everyday and do a 1 hour session in the gym lifting weights- maybe that's why I look like Hercules 

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Sounds like you only need the 27 footer occasionally judging by your original post. If this is he case and you only need an 18 for most of your work then you will notice a huge difference tween the CLX 27 and the SLX 18. Just keep the 27 footer for your higher work. That's what I did. Though I did eventually change the CLX 27 for a SLX 25. I can't speak for the Extremes as I've never felt the need to go lighter than the SLXs. The SLX poles are much nicer to use than the CLX ones as well.