This forced one to take the stairs, thus getting exercise (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

dead lift

'stairs thus getting exercise' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'this forced one to take' is the wordplay.
'this forced' becomes 'dead' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'one to take' becomes 'lift' (I've seen this before).
'dead'+'lift'='DEAD-LIFT'

'the' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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