Hey guys,
I’ve just signed up but have been lurking for a while and am really grateful for the wealth of information I’ve been able to access on this forum so far.
I’m thinking of taking my C+E training but am worried about the prospect of knackering my back.
I’m a big, top heavy guy with a rugby players build (6’2, 230lbs) and others in my family have suffered bad backs/necks, primarily the taller ones of us. When I hit 30, I found myself continually in mild discomfort from an achey lower back. However, I was fat and weak with terrible posture and spent many evenings sitting on my xbox.
The past five years I’ve hit the gym hard and got rid of my spare tyre, strengthening my core with squats/deadlifts etc. I also ensured that my office chair was properly adjusted and tried to get up every 30 mins, even if just to stretch and sit straight back down again. My fear is that this won’t be possible on the road. Even though you get a bad rep in the office if you’re constantly in the kitchen making coffee, nobody will tell you off for standing up and stretching for 10 seconds or doing the 30 seconds walk to the water cooler and back. However, pulling over to stretch hourly isn’t going to happen in an LGV I fear.
Worryingly, the stats seem to back up my concerns. LGV drivers apparently have 4x the risk of back problems and 52% report back pain. Even the training websites have tips on saving your back and there are many articles about exercises for drivers - apparently, the main issues are vibration and dehydration of the spine due to sitting. I also read that a lot of cabs are uncomfortable due to being converted from left hand drive to right.
However, I’m defo one to overthink things, and I reflect that 50% don’t train like I do. Perhaps I could be in the good half if I watch my posture, keep slim/strong and don’t jump out of the cab etc. It makes me think of plumbers - my friend is in his 50s and believes that many people get the famous bad knees simply because they neglect to wear padding (he has overalls with integrated knee pads). Could driving be the same? I certainly used to notice that many of my colleagues in the office were fat and sedentary and hunched over their computers, just begging for a back problem. Also, many people don’t know how to lift properly - I can deadlift 200kg and understand how to keep my core tight and back straight (I had no back probs when doing crew work with regular heavy lifting).
Sorry for the rambling post. What do you guys think? Am I over worrying, or could this job end my love of the gym - I want both health and relative prosperity, but I’ll work in a gym for peanuts before I allow myself to become a fat miserable blob again lol.
I reflect that the agencies I will likely work for during my first 1-2 years may be less sympathetic than the big corporate companies I’ve worked for as a permanent employee in regard to my ongoing posture etc.
Alternatively, could I do some manner of site work in the long run, where I’m not trunking on motorways for endless hours, or some type of driving with more frequent stops (although everybody seems to hate multi-drop work)?
Cheers guys!
even being high up stuck in a motorway traffic jam isn’t all bad 