This week, we had two windows replaced in our sports therapy and massage treatment rooms here at LSRC — out with the old aluminium frames and Georgian bars, in with modern UPVC. Reception got a little freshen-up too, with new glazed units throughout. A big thank you to 5 Star Windows and Conservatories for a brilliant job.

It was a beautifully sunny day, and while the fitters had no time to sit and enjoy it, watching them work got us thinking. What they were doing was seriously physical — heavy lifting, stair climbing, overhead work, squatting, reaching — all day long. In many ways, it is not so different from what we see in our sports rehabilitation patients every week.

Heavy Lifting: The Real-World Deadlift and Overhead Press

Double-glazed window units are no joke. They typically weigh between 20 and 50 kilograms, and getting them from the van to the first floor requires serious effort. The movement patterns involved will be familiar to anyone who trains:

• Lifting a unit from the ground mirrors a barbell deadlift — posterior chain, grip, braced core

• Hoisting a frame up into a wall opening is an overhead press — shoulders, triceps, upper back

• Manoeuvring frames into tight spaces demands flexibility and control through a full range of motion

This kind of functional strength — built through real tasks rather than isolated gym machines — is exactly what sports massage and rehabilitation work supports. When your muscles are doing varied, loaded work across different planes of movement, recovery matters.

Continuous Movement and Cardiovascular Demand

Window fitting is not just about the heavy moments. The installers were on the move all day — measuring, carrying, climbing stairs, fetching tools, repositioning equipment. That kind of sustained activity adds up fast:

• A full day of active installation easily exceeds 10,000 steps

• Constant movement keeps heart rate elevated throughout the day, similar to a long-distance run in total calorie burn

• Squatting to seal frames, reaching to fit top units, and crouching to caulk edges all contribute to joint mobility and muscular endurance

It is a full-body session without ever setting foot in a gym.

Hydration: The Often-Overlooked Priority for Physical Work

Working with heavy glass in warm weather demands absolute concentration — and that focus degrades quickly when you are dehydrated. For anyone doing physical labour, hydration is not optional:

• Aim for at least 250ml of water every 30 minutes during sustained activity

• On warm days, electrolytes help replace what you lose through sweat — a simple electrolyte mix or coconut water works well

• Dehydration causes fatigue, impaired coordination, and dizziness — all of which become genuinely dangerous when you are handling large panes of glass

For more on how to fuel your body around physical activity, take a look at our guide on fuelling your body after physical activity.

When Physical Work Takes Its Toll

Manual work done well is genuinely impressive — but it also places real demands on the body. If your job involves heavy or repetitive physical tasks and you are dealing with muscle soreness, joint stiffness, or niggling injuries, our team can help assess what is going on and support your recovery.

Get in touch to book an appointment at our Leamington Spa or Redditch clinic — we work with people who use their bodies hard every day, in the gym and on the job.