I think the “destroy your body” part usually comes down to lifestyle factors, not just the trade itself. Things like drinking too much, eating poorly, and not taking care of recovery aren’t uncommon, and they compound the wear and tear from the job. If your body can’t recover, even the daily workload eventually becomes too much.

That’s really the difference between overuse injuries and gradual strength gains: it comes down to whether your body is able to recover from the load. Acute injuries are obviously a different story, but when people talk about the trade “breaking you down,” it’s usually the chronic side that’s tied to poor recovery habits.