Knee problems?

[postypie]

...erm these is no other duty in our office with over 3000 steps(yes I have counted them)..lol..i am a sad git.

Are these Scottish tenements?
The Tenement study recommended nobody did more than 30 - which equates to about 1800 steps.
3 000 suggests you are doing approx. 50?

Got to plead ignorance there Clash as I never heard of such an agreement/study sir.
Any link for this information?

[clashcityrocker]

Got to plead ignorance there Clash as I never heard of such an agreement/study sir.
Any link for this information?

Many moons ago Royal Mail sent its own H&S bods into offices in Dundee and Glasgow to offices with high concentrations of tenements to see the effect of all that stair climbing on the posties.
They attached heart monitors to the posties and went out on delivery with them.
(In one case the heart rate at the end was so high the H&S bod considered calling an ambulance for the postie)
They concluded that Victorian tenements with 4 stories (that's 3 in Scottish) were physically too demanding and duties should have no more than 100 flights or 33 tenements.
Royal Mail didn't like the study and diluted it ....and diluted it before declaring it obsolete due to the introduction of new delivery methods.
At the same time other areas felt they were missing out and the study morphed into a fatigue study for deliveries with steps.

If you enter tenement study into the search function at the top of the page you will find it, but you might have to scroll through a couple of pages.

If you only have one such duty in the office, would it be so difficult to split it with the duty next to it so that you shared the climbing between the 2 of you ?

[calpsy]

Had knee trouble for last few years in RM and finally left a year ago this month with IHR . Never expected to get it but got it no probs nice amount too .

Knees are great now and so is life .

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Tenement_long_term_study_Feb_2 http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... hp?id=6125" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BT2010 - Delivery Specific Issues (Tenement Study?) http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 2&p=518343" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; includes a download CWU Walk Design Group Response to...
Fatigue Study into Physically Demanding Delivery Routes.
Dundee & Glasgow Hills & Stairs.

fatigue study http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =1&t=30828" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kirstyx]

I started having pain on my right knee on wednesday while delivering I completed the delivery and rested the rest of the day but still sore the next day my day off so went to gp who said it was runners kneewhich seems to be a generic diagnosis for knee pain ive been off sick since as was told to rest it but it constantly feels like there's pressure behind my kneecap and at the topofthe knee since nothing has changed im not going to risk a delivery and will be back at the gp again hopefully to get a proper diagnosis

[Regal]

Half of our office go to physio with knee, ankle and shoulder injuries.
Personally i suffer from shinsplints.

[freelunch]

When you have put the letters through the letter box remember to lift your foot before you turn away from it - rotating the knee joint with the sole of your foot on the floor causes damage to the knee structure. I had a problem for a couple of years with my right knee until I figured that one out - you have to be quite disciplined remembering to do it but it does make a difference after a short time. Hope this helps.

Thank you rhino, good tip
I'm finding the tread on my right sole is wearing faster than the left due to turning. Will try to retrain myself to prevent permanent knee damage.

[farstrider]

These will help.

thanks will try this after ,25 years in job my knees are knackered

[newtimes]

I have had/got Plantar Fasciitis and X rays reveal I am developing Arthritis in my knees. Doc has given me note to say light duties only. Dom has no light duties. Dom says go sick whilst IHR is applied for (I'M 60) The scary thing for those with dodgy knees is that, come retirement you stand the chance of being crippled. Do you want to spend your retirement disabled. Royal Mail don't give a toss. I just hope I can get out with IHR asap.

Its all down to quality of life, do I want money now to have a "good" 1st world life style or take a hit on it now but come old age I can be fit enough to keep out of the "retirement home factories". "losing weight" is very hard when you are in a bad loop of being unable to do your job without pain and the pressure creates stress and personally I end up eating too much. Complaining is the wrong option nothing gets done and it eats into your life, Like many co workers we are all trying to find a way out, would I be right to think IHR gives you a "soft"landing into the benefit system till you find a new job. The fear for many of us is having no money coming in till a new job is found, there are jobs out there, I accept not at the same rate as RM but personally I will take a lower income for better healthily life style. I am typing this waiting to leave to see a doctor about my condition, what makes it worse is some co workers become very resentful about it all, they are the next generation to have "our" medical conditions but I think they will be arriving there far quicker than myself.

[silver_fox]

I do running as well as the job and I used to get knee problems when I was on a big round or did overtime. However since I've changed footwear and become more aware of how I walk/run I no longer have any knee pain at all.

I wear the trainers for work, the CAT ones originally but now we have even better YDS ones which are a little more bulky but waterproof. I always take out the inner soles so my feet are a little closer to the ground. Don't believe the myth that more cushioning is better, it is not. The more cushioning you have, the less you are aware of your walking style. I seriously cannot walk in the boots, I gave a new pair of magnum boots away as the heels were so high I couldn't walk properly. Could feel it hurting my back straight away.

Look up 'barefoot running' or barefoot walking, it means changing your style, landing on the mid/front foot instead of the heel when running. When walking you still land on the heel but make an effort to push off with your forefoot and try to feel your individual toes when pushing off. Try and be light on your feet, when you go up steps you naturally use the front of your foot and this is better for your knees.

As the other poster said, turn without your feet being planted on the ground. I have got in the habit of turning on one foot with only the front of that foot on the ground. Be careful getting out of vans the combos are too low. Turn in your seat first before putting both feet down and pushing yourself out. dont rush and twist putting pressure on your knees.

If you want to practise the barefoot walking out of work get a pair of vivobarefoot or merrell barefoot trainers, they will force you to walk correctly, as when you walk wrong in them your heels will hurt in no time.

[flaminmoses]

After a good year out of the job i finally have worn a new groove in my knee which seems to suit.
My knee became imbalanced because of carrying a bag on one shoulder....out of habit.

Now i can walk a few miles a day without any niggles.
Shame about the back though.

When i was off sacked for the knee issue my back became inactive and problems flared up.
Osteophites.
Won me jobback but had to take ihr.

Its a lot better as the climate where i live now is a good 10 degrees warmer than the uk.

The back may never be able to handle manual work again....but i guess having my knees working to a decent level again is something.

[Komet]

16 years with RM both walking and driving (including the ridiculous Vauxhall Combis). I left a while ago now and two knee replacements later I now have no pain. When I joined the RM I had good knees ..... go figure.

The hips aren't good either.

Moral - Take VERY good care of yourself. In my office in the Lakes, very few guys actually retired because of age.... most were ill health retirement.

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M