[Matt Bird]

Hi all first post here

Getting injuries left right and centre now golfers elbow shoulder wearing from reeling too fast neck strain even fell down a bloody man hole and dislocated my thumb
Most are repetitive strain which will only get worse !?
Anyone else had these?
Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

[AuRavelling79]

Hi all first post here

Getting injuries left right and centre now golfers elbow shoulder wearing from reeling too fast neck strain even fell down a bloody man hole and dislocated my thumb
Most are repetitive strain which will only get worse !?
Anyone else had these?
Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

How long have you been window cleaning? How old are you? What poles do you use?

[malcolms cleaning]

It's expensive this game. 

1.  Extreme pole
2.  Electric reel
3. Step back from the window face it  not horizontal

[colin bird]

I started window cleaning thirteen years ago using wfd pole system.
After a short time I had tennis elbow in both arms and lost the strength in both hands due to tennis elbow,my neck also used to hurt from constantly looking up. Both problems sorted themselves out after a few months I was 47 at that time.

Thirteen years on,no tennis elbow,no neck problems,just a dodgeyhip,and  I hate the winter and summer more now than I did then,and more customers appear to be arxxholxs,or maybe it's just my age.

Good luck I hope it works out for you

[Slacky]

Thirteen years on,no tennis elbow,no neck problems,just a dodgeyhip

Likewise, I think this job doesn't do our bodies any favours.

Had the bad back, dodgy shoulders, iffy neck. Currently it's the hip/lower back.

[Richard Groves]

I've had tennis elbow a couple of times in past. Second time doctors advised against cortisone injection as can lead to permanent tendon damage. The advice was to strengthen the joint by specific exercises that stretch out the tendons and massage to encourage greater blood flow to the elbow to repair it. I bought one of these and it helped.https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwin1YKvgeTuAhWp6O0KHT89C7AYABAEGgJkZw&ae=2&sig=AOD64_0Ud7EFc5HMyj8J46fmRFqfkhXf1Q&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwi_iPuugeTuAhVEolwKHbFiBC4Qwg96BAgBEA8&dct=1&adurl=

Anything that's going to take repetitive strain off of your body is going to help . Electric reels.
Light poles and brushes. Even a longer pole will help. Stand further back so you're not straining your neck up or arms above shoulders.

Seek out a good chiropractor. As you age in this line of work it's good investment and maintenance. Your body is equipment too.

[dazmond]

Hi all first post here

Getting injuries left right and centre now golfers elbow shoulder wearing from reeling too fast neck strain even fell down a bloody man hole and dislocated my thumb
Most are repetitive strain which will only get worse !?
Anyone else had these?
Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

Xtreme pole and brush
Electric reel
Microbore(6mm) hose

You need all 3 to make a real difference to strain during your working day.

I find strength training helps 2 or 3 times a week too.

I'm 49 and ive been window cleaning for 28 years(11 WFP)and have never suffered from tennis or golfer's elbow and no shoulder complaints....

I do get occasional back ache but nothing too serious

[dazmond]

Hi all first post here

Getting injuries left right and centre now golfers elbow shoulder wearing from reeling too fast neck strain even fell down a bloody man hole and dislocated my thumb
Most are repetitive strain which will only get worse !?
Anyone else had these?
Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

what hours do you work in a typical day/ week Matt?
how old are you?
do you clean lots of add on work like fascias/soffits/outside gutters,conny roofs,etc?
do you clean lots of high level windows?(3 and 4 storey)

[Slacky]

Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

Up and down is mostly how I operate. Side to side causes too much bodily stress.

[dazmond]

Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

Up and down is mostly how I operate. Side to side causes too much bodily stress.

thats what my missus says so i stick to an up and down motion these days.......

[Pole 2 Pole]

I've had tennis elbow in the past. Crippling. It was my mum that read something in the paper and told me to try. Glucosamine. Took it for 2 to 3 months religiously. Never ever had it come back. You'll thank me in 3 months if you give it a try x

[Slacky]

Also when scrubbing windows with brush I have mainly used horizontal motion is this incorrect ?

Up and down is mostly how I operate. Side to side causes too much bodily stress.

thats what my missus says so i stick to an up and down motion these days.......

It's at times like that I understand where the phrase 'window licker' comes from....

[NWH]

Pull you’re fingers back and stretch them palms out in front of you pull fingers back and down,the ulnar nerve is attached to the index or middle fingers on the hand the tendons get tight with repetition.
Loosen the forearm muscle with massage any cream like aqueous non scented cream,up and down using the thumb on the opposite hand,do this for a week 10 full stretches on each hand 3 times a day it’ll be gone in a week.

[Stoots]

Im "only" 39 but im certainly feeling a lot older than i did when is started 5 years ago.

I get pains in my hands, elbows, shoulders and by the weekend seem to ache all over.

Ive just got rid of all my work where i need to use anything longer than a 25ft pole and tbh i would prefer not to use that either..

And definitely an electric reel if you don't have one. Ive been using a manual one all week and getting out of breathe 

But a few weeks ago i built myself a home gym and have started weight training again and i must admit i feel more energetic and of a better mind lately. So don't underestimate exercise and diet, ive neglected that for years but as you get older hanging onto muscle becomes even more important.

Someone mentioned glucosamine, ive just ordered some of this hope it helps.

[Stoots]

Pull you’re fingers back and stretch them palms out in front of you pull fingers back and down,the ulnar nerve is attached to the index or middle fingers on the hand the tendons get tight with repetition.
Loosen the forearm muscle with massage any cream like aqueous non scented cream,up and down using the thumb on the opposite hand,do this for a week 10 full stretches on each hand 3 times a day it’ll be gone in a week.

Thats quite a sensible, good informative post for you mate, well done 👍

[Pole 2 Pole]

It will help Stoots. And if it doesn't, you've lost 4 quid. But it will help.

[KS Cleaning]

Can’t believe I’m saying this.......What NWH says is spot on🤩

[Ggh]

I've had tennis elbow in the past. Crippling. It was my mum that read something in the paper and told me to try. Glucosamine. Took it for 2 to 3 months religiously. Never ever had it come back. You'll thank me in 3 months if you give it a try x

Cheers I’ll try that. Had tennis elbow maybe 15 years. Used to be a stone mason.

[NWH]

Listen lol I had a real real problem with this to the point many years ago I thought I am not going to be able to carry on,I went to osteopaths sports massage you name it and they are useless when it comes to this it can’t be fixed by them it needs a week to 10 days and you are the only one who can get rid of it trust me.
Repetitive movements or over gripping cause this as you use the pole the tendons flex and the main ones are the wrist-forearm-bicep and frontal shoulder muscles,use a full stretch as I said out in front palms up as 1 rep do the stretches during the day and after the 3rd set in the evening then use the massage technique,when you first start doing this you will literally feel it pinging through the tendons as they are being stretched for maybe the first time in some cases.

[NWH]

Another thing that really helps is heat I used a hot water bottle on the inside of the forearm before stretching in the evening,if you’ve got it badly the forearm muscle will feel like a brick it’ll be so tight,over time it’ll soften when that happens you are getting somewhere it’s all loosening up.