Why you shouldn’t wait for pain to make a change
Technology has gone a long way in making physically demanding jobs easier. You likely have a vehicle or machine that you rely on to do your job effectively, and you take great care in its maintenance and condition.
Imagine one day you are using your machine or vehicle of choice, and you notice a noise. It’s not a good noise but it’s not the worst, and you’re on a deadline so you carry on. Over time you get used to the noise and stop hearing it until one day - CLANG. The noise goes from bad to catastrophic. The machine is running badly, or possibly not even running at all, and it’s certainly not in usable condition.
Now you’re not only left without much needed equipment, but it’s likely to be a far more difficult and costly fix. That means lost time, lost money, increased effort, and a whole lot of frustration. The signs were there before, but because you didn’t act on it you’re on a deadline without the machines that make your job possible.
This is exactly what happens when you ignore the early signs that your body isn’t in balance.
What happens before pain?
Have you ever woken up one day and not been able to turn your neck? Had a sore back? Had an old injury from your youth come back with a fresh vengeance?
These feelings rarely come out of nowhere. Usually, they are a culmination of repetitive movements, postural imbalances, and less-than-ideal movement patterns. Leading up to the morning where you wake up and can’t look left, your body gave you a range pre-pain warning signs.
If you’ve experienced the following, your body is trying to tell you something:
Feeling stiff when you wake up
Feeling achy when you get out of a chair
Wishing for an elevator when walking up stairs
The need to adjust, crack, stretch, or otherwise relieve tension in your neck, back, and limbs
Stiffness or swelling in your hands or feet
Inexplicable aches or stiffness in multiple areas of your body
These sensations are common, and we are often conditioned to ignore them as ‘part of the job’ or as a normal part of aging… but really, they are the ‘not the worst but still not good noise’ your body makes to highlight a problem.
You might be so used to these sensations you don’t even notice them cropping up at work. If the amount of work you are doing, you may also start to experience other symptoms…
Physical signs you are doing too much
Overtraining syndrome is used in fitness and sports coaching to describe what happens when your body isn’t able to keep up with the demands of a training regiment.
Your physically demanding job is a bit like a gym programme, and if you aren’t able to get adequate rest and recovery your body will start to make a range of noises until you pay attention!
Signs of overtraining:
Feeling fatigued
Irritability, tension, depression, or anger
Struggling to relax
Sleep troubles
Low motivation and decreased enjoyment in life
Catching every cold, flu or bug around
Increased resting heart rate and blood pressure
Gas, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea or other gastric discomfort
Both pre-pain and overtraining sensations are a sign you need to make a change before your body insists you take a break.
Five ways to make a change
#1 Speak to your employer
Your employer has a legal obligation to look after you. If you are experiencing aches, pains, or other symptoms get them involved in helping you adapt your work so you don’t end up in pain down the line.
#2 Space out your physically demanding tasks
If you are in charge of your workdays, space out your physically demanding tasks so you can get rest and recovery time during the day, week, and during particularly busy seasons.
#3 Book some time off
While it may not change the underlying reason for your discomfort, booking some time off can help you rest and recover in the short-term. This is a great strategy for handling overtraining symptoms, and gives you the time to think creatively about ensuring you don’t end up right back here on your return.
#4 See a physiotherapist
Just as you send your tools off to the shop for repairs, a physiotherapist can do that for your body. An assessment, treatment, and exercise plan can help you nip any potential pains in the bud!
#5 Get in touch with us!
We are specialists in manual handling training for physically demanding industries.
With 15 years fitness coaching experience, competing to a professional level, working in a range of demanding industries, and coaching hundreds of different bodies, we are here to help you stay happy, safe, and effective for the long haul!
get in touch directly 👇
Or forward this article to your employer!
