[NWH]

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.

Makes no difference how old you are with this ailment it’s the repetition the hip and lower back pain is the same with WFP you are twisted and pulling the L4-L5 vertebrae out of sink,I’ve also had this it’s full on working and neglecting the stretches.
With this once an osteopath or chiropractor has put right the realignment with these 2 vertebrae you need to make sure you do hip flexor exercises to keep it at bay,I sit on the floor and pull the right knee to the left shoulder and the left knee to the right shoulder afterwards,you should feel the stretch through the glutes and lower back the hip pain and lower back pain is referred pain from the hip flexors being tight.

[NWH]

If you pole with the left hand leading you’ll get the hip pain in the left hip and down the leg,a roller on the outside of the T band of the quads loosens the hip flexor big time it almost gets rid of the hip pain,it can be so painful you think to yourself it’s definitely coming from the hip itself but 9-10 it’s not the hip itself. 👍

[KS Cleaning]

Another thing you can do to avoid RSI whilst poling is to alternate how you hold the pole. So for example if your left hand is your ‘ high hand ’ whilst poling, don’t always have your left hand on top of the pole section with your knuckles showing, alternate by repositioning your hand on the underside of the pole so it is your palm and nails showing, this ensures different muscles are being used and reduces the risk of RSI.

[NWH]

It’s very difficult to change hands if you’re right handed you are right handed and you always end up going back to the dominant side,the pole shouldn’t need to be gripped that’s why the Extreme poles are so good to use they can be used with the fingertips for cleaning with.
The heavier the pole the more the grip is needed I can’t emphasis using the lightest pole possible enough,if you have golfers elbow now it won’t make much difference till it clears up because using a knitting needle at the moment will aggravate it as it’s the movement over gripping will bring it back again.
Hot water helps but doesn’t prevent it but less scrubbing is needed,manual reeling causes it and increases the intensity of it and so does using a heavy pole the Ova pole is good as it changes the rounded grip on a pole but even that slight change of that shape on the Ova it focuses on the outer tendons of the forearm over the inside,even the slight change in shape with that pole almost straight away it feels tricep over what previously felt like bicep strain even with that small change in shape.

[dazmond]

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.

I've been weight training regularly for nearly 5 years now Adam....it does make a difference to how you feel...also building bigger shoulders,arms and back really helps with wfp.....

[KS Cleaning]

It’s very difficult to change hands if you’re right handed you are right handed and you always end up going back to the dominant side,the pole shouldn’t need to be gripped that’s why the Extreme poles are so good to use they can be used with the fingertips for cleaning with.
The heavier the pole the more the grip is needed I can’t emphasis using the lightest pole possible enough,if you have golfers elbow now it won’t make much difference till it clears up because using a knitting needle at the moment will aggravate it as it’s the movement over gripping will bring it back again.
Hot water helps but doesn’t prevent it but less scrubbing is needed,manual reeling causes it and increases the intensity of it and so does using a heavy pole the Ova pole is good as it changes the rounded grip on a pole but even that slight change of that shape on the Ova it focuses on the outer tendons of the forearm over the inside,even the slight change in shape with that pole almost straight away it feels tricep over what previously felt like bicep strain even with that small change in shape.

Who said anything about changing hands?

[NWH]

If you were 18 stone ripped and were sorting out buttons for a living you’d get tendinitis in you’re fingers it’s the repetitive movement m8,Bodybuilders take steroids to build muscle they promote protein but the main resason they don’t get injured is because it also strengthens the tendons to the point you don’t know when you’ve injured them they just snap.
You can be as big and as strong as anyone it’s the repetitive movement that starts this off,the body is a wonderful thing the tightness and pain is a signal somethings not right.

[NWH]

Sorry yeah alter how you hold the pole you said which is true I’ve also tried this but the majority of the time we all end up going back to the same way we used to,try fingers on top of pole or fingers underneath I always found myself going back to what was natural.
It’ll come back without the stretches no matter how you hold the pole the key I’ve found is to take the time to do these stretches as and when I can feel it niggling or playing up,this injury is ageless it comes and goes but if you keep on top of it you’ll go months then years without this elbow pain it was getting to the point with me that I couldn’t sleep I couldn’t rest my elbow anywhere without starting it off.

[Smudger]

Hey Nigel -


great posts mate lets see more of this kind of thing


Darran

[NWH]

😘 much love m8 cold where you are is it ridiculously cold down South biting wind feels like -10 + in the wind 💨.

[Smudger]

no, further inland -10 but around here -2 at its worst - snow virtually gone now

Darran

[robbo333]

As above really.

I had tennis elbow and what worked for me is:
Lighter pole Xtreme 22 pole (you can clean using your fingertips).
Extreme brushes only.
Using 50m of Gardiners reinforced pole hose (on my main reel) along with 50m microbore. This lighter weight hose is easier to pull round houses and reel in.
Electric reel (although I don't have one).
Make sure your reel is at shoulder height (so you're not bending over etc).
I work out the side of the van (so in 95% of situations I have a straight run of hose to the back of the house)
Learn how to clean methodically (so you're not wasting effort, or over cleaning).
Work to a reasonable pace (don't go balls out mental every day because you'll burn out)
Listen to your body. If you fancy a 5 min rest have one.

[windowswashed]

Learn to pole left and right handed, easy enough if you keep doing it regularly.

Other thing is rinse with the brush on the glass. See some nutters trying to rinse off the glass with an arched back too close to the buildings, houses, no wonder they bugger themselves up.

Scrub vertically not horizontally and also rinse vertically unless glass exceptionally hydrophobic.

[KS Cleaning]

Learn to pole left and right handed, easy enough if you keep doing it regularly.

Other thing is rinse with the brush on the glass. See some nutters trying to rinse off the glass with an arched back too close to the buildings, houses, no wonder they bugger themselves up.

Scrub vertically not horizontally and also rinse vertically unless glass exceptionally hydrophobic.

You must be the Ronnie O’Sullivan of the WFP’ling world👏👏

[dazmond]

If you were 18 stone ripped and were sorting out buttons for a living you’d get tendinitis in you’re fingers it’s the repetitive movement m8,Bodybuilders take steroids to build muscle they promote protein but the main resason they don’t get injured is because it also strengthens the tendons to the point you don’t know when you’ve injured them they just snap.
You can be as big and as strong as anyone it’s the repetitive movement that starts this off,the body is a wonderful thing the tightness and pain is a signal somethings not right.

ive never taken steroids and never would........weight training has helped a lot....i dont get RSI......regular training doesnt just build stronger muscles it strengthens tendons too......

[swanson]

What’s happened to Mr Bird

[Matt Bird]

Another thing you can do to avoid RSI whilst poling is to alternate how you hold the pole. So for example if your left hand is your ‘ high hand ’ whilst poling, don’t always have your left hand on top of the pole section with your knuckles showing, alternate by repositioning your hand on the underside of the pole so it is your palm and nails showing, this ensures different muscles are being used and reduces the risk of RSI.

Been doing this for last few days and it’s making a difference

Thanks for reply’s
Nwh I did hot water bottle last night before I saw these and made a difference today!
I’ll try the exercises for sure thanks a lot!!

I’m around 30 I do lods of s/f/gs no high work
My
Pole is 1kg carbon best around that doesn’t snap as I’ve tried super light hi mods and they’re poop sidewards etc no electric reeel I pull hose down road in villages in van just workin too hard I reckon

[Matt Bird]

Also it is nerves in hand as I’ve been getting numb hand in morning and with wrist turned inwards tightening a ladder clamp for example sometimes it can cause a massive almost like electric shock which are that painful it’s made me fall off backward van wheel 

[Matt Bird]

Sorry yeah alter how you hold the pole you said which is true I’ve also tried this but the majority of the time we all end up going back to the same way we used to,try fingers on top of pole or fingers underneath I always found myself going back to what was natural.
It’ll come back without the stretches no matter how you hold the pole the key I’ve found is to take the time to do these stretches as and when I can feel it niggling or playing up,this injury is ageless it comes and goes but if you keep on top of it you’ll go months then years without this elbow pain it was getting to the point with me that I couldn’t sleep I couldn’t rest my elbow anywhere without starting it off.

Triple reply but hey ho been busy today.
I been doing this open handed . Standing straight also as I think shoulder is front always been diagonal with arms causing back arm to be crunched up position for shoulder blade if you KWIM?!
Been loads better today going slower and vertical and using both arms which I never have on upstairs !  I reckon cold weather ain’t helping with it all either and gyms are shut so haven’t trained for a year and getting a bit fatter. All advice has been great though much appreciated

[NWH]

That comment about rinsing off the glass is so true you just don’t need to I see this all the time brush a foot away from the glass it’s a joke,you don’t need bring it off the glass with a good flow of water.
The tiny bits you’ll see on the glass when you’ve finished a window disappear when it’s dried off I’ve done countless experiments with rinsing on and off years ago it makes no difference,I use pencil jets controller on 90-95 it’s got no choice but to rinse as I go.