When you’ve spent years working in an environment filled with heavy tools, metal parts, and machinery, a bit of wear and tear on the body feels like part of the job. Whether you’re in the workshop, on the tracks, or handling locomotives, it’s not unusual to shrug off the odd twinge or ache. After all, it’s just part of the day-to-day, right?
But over time, these niggles can become more than just a mild inconvenience. They build up. Neck pain that was once a slight irritation can start to affect sleep. Shoulders feel tight more days than not. And that dull ache in the lower back? It becomes something you plan your week around.
That’s exactly why a new partnership between Locomotive Services Group and True Physio has come into place—to offer real, practical support for those who are always first to lend a hand, even when the lift is heavier than it should be.
Back, Shoulders, and the Strain of Hard Work
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve got a jack or a crane for this, but I’ll just shift it myself,” you’re not alone. It’s a habit built on pride, experience, and the can-do attitude that’s helped the UK’s railways tick for generations. But while the job might get done quicker, the body often takes the hit.
Lifting, twisting, bending, welding, crouching, these are movements done day in, day out. The kind of work you don’t need a gym for, because your job is your workout. The issue is, there’s no warm-up, no cool-down, and definitely no break between sets.
It’s not just about big, obvious injuries either. The more common issues are gradual: aching shoulders, tight necks, stiff lower backs. Over time, joints get less mobile and muscles compensate in ways they shouldn’t. Before long, your body’s working overtime just to keep you moving.
That’s where physiotherapy and sports massage come in. Not just to treat problems, but to help prevent them becoming bigger ones in the first place.
A Partnership That Puts People First
Understanding the value of looking after its people, Locomotive Services Group has partnered with True Physio, with a focus on keeping their team feeling fit, mobile, and ready to enjoy life on and off the job.
Staff now have access to special rates with True Physio, and the support can even be used through the company’s Health Plan, making it easier than ever to get the help when it’s needed.
“Since receiving regular sports massage at the Crewe clinic, I’ve noticed a big difference in how my body feels at work and in general life,” says Chris Tweats, Group Health & Safety Officer at Locomotive Services. “The team at True Physio know what they’re doing, and I’d absolutely recommend them to others in the business who want to feel more comfortable day to day.”
This partnership is just one of the ways Locomotive Services is reinforcing its commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing; not just as a box-ticking exercise, but because they know how crucial it is to look after the people who keep everything moving.
Why Prevention is Better Than Cure
True Physio’s approach is all about understanding how the body really works in real-world jobs. They’re not about gimmicks or generic advice, they know that someone who’s been on the tools for 20+ years needs a different kind of support to someone sitting at a desk.
“Supporting local people’s wellbeing is at the heart of what we do,” says True Physio lead, Hayley Bonnick, “The team at Locomotive Services put in incredibly physical work, often with a lot of repetition and strain. It’s fantastic to be part of something that helps them feel stronger, looser, and more in control of how their bodies feel.”
Whether it’s working on long-standing stiffness, dealing with shoulder or back pain, or just keeping things moving well with maintenance treatment, the benefits of regular, hands-on support can be massive.
Making Time for Your Body
It’s easy to put this sort of care off, especially when you’re busy, or when you’ve always just powered through. But there comes a point when being tough becomes less about pushing through pain and more about taking smart steps to keep going.
Even one appointment can offer real insight into what’s going on under the surface. And with the added bonus of familiar faces from the railway already seeing results, there’s never been a better time to give it a go.
So if your shoulders ache after a long day, if your back’s been feeling tight for months, or if you’ve just started noticing a stiffness that wasn’t there before – know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to just accept it.
True Physio, now working alongside Locomotive Services Group, is here to support the people behind the trains, the tools, and the tracks. And they’re making it that little bit easier to keep doing the work you’re proud of without being held back by pain.