Arthritis is hereditary, but it will inflame areas that have been stressed or injured. I’m riddled from head to toe with arthritis, on anti inflammatories (symptom masking) and anti immune system drugs (disease modifying). Severe arthritis put me completely out work for three years, and out of window cleaning for six. But when I started taking the disease modifying drugs (personal choice for quality of life reasons), I knew, within three days I could go back to window cleaning.
During the time off window cleaning, I had a lot of time to think. How I would do it again if I could? So now, I have several strategies for working with disabilities:
Self employed (boss can’t complain that way).
Work part time. The high income low overheads for relatively low effort model works for me. If I’m having a bad day/week pain-wise, I can schedule a break. Pace yourself.
Target as much single storey residential work (less looking up) as possible. I found through experience the cash flow is better for residential window cleaning (they pay faster). Less travelling too.
Use plenty of slippy soap to reduce friction on my wrists and joints.
Use reduced detailing equipment (Moerman and Unger S-Plus). I found the detailing takes it’s toll on your lower arms tendons.
Relax the wrist when squeegeeing.
Medium to low pressure on the squeegee (let the soap + slip do the work).
Let the chemicals do there cleaning (dissolving) work for you (less labor).
Reduce/eliminate high ladder work wherever possible (minimize chance of injury and stress on ankles etc).
Be really careful outside of work not to injure myself (stay away from high risk/injury activities/sports).
Just turn down work you know is going to be too hard on your body etc.
Really really important, (as many have said) I always stretch, every morning I go window cleaning. Back, neck, legs, wrists, arms, shoulders. I always have a hot shower to start the day, to help those stiff muscles and loosen up. My whole outlook and strategy is to find ways I can do my job with a less real world stress on my body as possible.
I’m highly skilled at my job. I enjoy it. When I started back I had no money (zero)! I had to build my business from scratch. Now the phone rings all the time, and I’m giving away work to my friends (other window cleaners). Can’t forget to mention my wife. She’s amazing. She works with me (part time) and I love her. Couldn’t do it without her.
Hope this helps someone in some little way to keep going.
This is a great idea. Carbon fiber pole technology and squeegee designs are monumentally better than when I started 25+ years ago and improved techniques eliminate detail. I’m going to phase out my short step ladder work and detailing in favor of more pole work, mostly places where WFP is impractical to break out.
the original question is what physical issues do we have from the job
used to be carpal tunnel, that’s long gone and recently a minor issue with tennis elbow that is gone
wpole and squeegee makes a huge difference from years ago with squeegee only and all those issues
a big one to avoid, and to keep up on stretches, cardio and weights is “throwing the back out”, that’s a really annoying one that can happen at such mysterious times, keeping up on core stuff and weights makes the every so often issue just a mini short duration issue instead of the debilitating long duration issue it could be on occasion
I agree. Weight lifting to keep strong is very important. What’s even more important is exercising with elastic bands and message therapy. Tom Brady’s career was over back when Willie McGiness played football with the Patriots. The pain in his throwing arm was so severe that he could only throw a football once a week, in the game. His Career was going to be over due to the repetitive motion injury in his elbow if he didn’t find a solution. Luckily Willie McGiness turned him on to a trainer that believed in light weight elastic band therapy. He tried it and It works. I have also tried it and it works.
Haha
What can I say but that it takes a little extra effort to keep our bodies rolling if we want to clean windows for more than ten years. Window cleaning is a painful way to earn a living when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing in regards to RMI.
I am 33, 16 years full-time in the business (5-6 days a week) – Rotator cuff tearing from sticking, Tucker-poling and any windows that are above eye level. Biggest mistakes over the years is NEVER STRETCH ABOVE YOUR HEAD. If you have to, get a step ladder. Trust me…the pain is not worth it, you use your shoulder for everything.
My eye-sight is getting a little bad due to the glare from working on the ocean for 16 years and looking at the sun. Polarized glasses help some, but I get many headaches (I don’t have the option to wait for the sun to get off glass, sun rises around 7:30am and isnt off ocean front glass until 12-1pm. I can’t even see without my sunglasses, I have failed my eye-sight test when I had to renew my license back in 2016.
Other than that, zero issues. I don’t work out, window cleaning is the best workout you can do-- if you do it for 8-10 hours I don’t see a need for a gym. Been the same weight for 16 years. Boss man is in his late 70’s (I think he is 77 or 79), works 7 days a week.
That guy probably got up at 5am, had some breakfast and went out soliciting or cleaning LOL. I asked him how old he was, I was a little off he is only 75. Aside from your wear and tear, he goes to the doctor often and they are amazed at the condition he is in. Come to think of it, I don’t think there’s been a time in over a decade I saw him take off time or anything for health issues. It’s kind of amazing, being as though I do many 60-70 year old’s homes and they are barely walking— Must be the window cleaning is all I can think of. He’s a good guy, I have enjoyed working for him. He’s out there working with you, I respect that
Turning 40 this week and just like a switch, I’m already complaining about having to squint nowadays, and neck & shoulder pain. I use to stretch when I was younger as the union jobs require it, but since changing to WC, I never felt the need. Well, it’s all catching up to me now!
. What else ya got 
