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The Heritage Issue
Apr-May 2025
Sore shoulder? Lower back twinge? It’s easy to overlook a twinge here and there but your body is trying to tell you that things are physically amiss.
Being a tradie means hard physical graft. And that’s not all bad! A physical job is excellent news for long-term physical health. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day lowers your chances of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and more. A physically active day also helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. And having a strong, fit body is one of the best ways to keep injuries at bay.
Back pain is the most common injury experienced by tradies. That’s not surprising, seeing as it’s the part of the body that gets used in pretty much everything we do, from lifting stuff and reaching up, to manoeuvring into tight spaces. Heck, even just being on your feet all day puts pressure on the spine. Lower back pain specifically is the most common complaint. Other common stress areas include shoulders, necks, knees and ankles.
Treating aches and pains as soon as they appear is paramount (see boxout).
Almost one in five Aussie workers are exposed to noise above the recommended occupational limit, according to a study published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal. Construction workers and other tradies who are continually exposed to excessive noise levels, or those who work with loud machinery, are at highest risk of hearing impairment and even deafness.
Plenty of jobs involve sparkies spending long periods of time in the beating sun. We all know that hats, shirts and sunscreen are a must in preventing skin cancer. If you notice a skin patch or mole getting bigger, darker, itchy or changing shape, get to a doctor pronto.
Despite all that physical activity, electricians and other tradespeople are prone to weight gain as they age. Eating on the run, working long hours and spending hours behind the wheel all contribute to increased levels of obesity, which in turn increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. Packing your own (healthy) food and scheduling in time for recreational exercise is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Tradies are well known for trying to ‘tough out’ injuries. Ignore the pain and it will go away. That or it becomes unbearable to the point that you can’t work. So if you feel any soreness – whether it’s a result of on-the-job activity or something that’s happened at home – don’t ignore it.
“Always act early when it comes to lower back pain,” says Australian Physiotherapy Association Occupational Health Physiotherapist Lucia Tsui. “Tradies know they put their bodies through a lot. Don’t risk injury or acute back pain developing into a chronic condition.”
And realise that as you get older, staying fit and healthy requires even more focus.
“Our generation will likely work longer than our parents, and brains and bodies change with age,” says Lucia.
“Adjusting your tasks and modifying how you get them done is key to staying effective and safe.”
This includes things such as regularly interrupting repetitive manual handling tasks with recovery breaks, and utilising step ladders to reach high areas without stretching or twisting.
If you notice a niggling pain over time, get your GP to refer you to a physio or osteopath who will help you tackle soreness and stiffness before it gets worse.
“Preventing injuries and treating them early is key,” says Lucia, “so that small issues don’t develop into more serious conditions that may keep tradies out of action for a longer term.”
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