In this episode I look at the reasons and outcomes of the UK and the USA's on-going issue of manual labour workers significantly reducing their workloads and in some cases, stopping work early in life due to RSI (repetitive strain injury) or chronic (long term) musculoskeletal complaints.

According to 2023 Great Britain Labour Force Survey 21% of work related injuries come from lifting, carrying or moving, with the lower back / lumbar region being the most common complaint

From electricians and bricklayers to plumbers and warehouse operatives, the ever present threat of a career change or even forced retirement looms, as the body's ability to adapt and recover from physically demanding workloads decreases.

Let's consider a plumber, whom regularly kneels down to access low height fixings, giving rise to acute or long term tendonitis or ligament damage to his knees.

How about a plasterer / dry wall expert, who spends hours everyday with his shoulders in both flexed or retracted positions, leading to frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) or permanent rotator cuff injuries.

The physiological changes to posture, mobility, flexibility and musculoskeletal strength may creep up slowly during our 20s or 30s, however once we hit our 40s, these changes can have a rapidly declining effect on the above functions, culminating in poor work standards and or increased absenteeism.

Coupled with excess weight gain and elevated body fat levels, the work related injuries can have a devastating effect on the physical and mental health of a once highly skilled and sought after construction worker or landscape gardener.

It's therefore advisable for manual labour workers to consider embarking on regular self care, by way of joining your local gym, hiring a personal trainer or visiting sports massage therapists and physiotherapists to maintain good health and subsequently extending your career into your 60s/ 70s.

Nutrition is also a key factor in longevity, assisting with balanced energy levels and soft tissue (muscle) repair. We often think of manual labour workers gorging on highly processed foods at lunchtime or getting off work early on Fridays to start a heavy drinking session, followed by salt and fat laden takeaways, leading to struggling through Saturday's workload and possibly losing a client or lucrative contract of employment.

I have personally trained joiners, bricklayers, painters and electricians with an eye on sustaining their chosen professions, allowing for a healthy body, which in turn prolongs their ability to provide a high level of service and of course earn a wage respectively.

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