After going through a move, even if you hired a good company, many people end up with pain in their back, legs and arms.
Arriving at your new home full of aches is not a good idea. Here we explain how to avoid those rough moments and move without complications.
Carrying furniture, or packing for hours in the wrong positions, can lead to pain and discomfort. There are correct ways to lift loads, with the weight well distributed, to avoid temporary or permanent injuries.
Hire Professionals
The first and best advice we can give is to leave your move to specialised companies. Thinking it’s better to save money and do the move yourself is a common mistake that usually ends badly.
Removals companies have enough trained professionals who know the correct way to carry weight.
Their work habits let them adopt the right posture for each load and avoid getting injured.
Common Injuries
Because of the effort involved in a move, injuries can occur in the shoulders, back and knees. Muscle strain is also common, causing pain in places you didn’t even know you had.
By taking on the tasks of a move yourself, you can end up with all sorts of injuries from muscle overload.
It’s common to feel pain in the hands, shoulders and lower back after a DIY move.
That’s why we must keep in mind that overloading weight, making the wrong movements, or even gripping objects incorrectly, even ones that aren’t that heavy, can end in injury.
Precautions
If, despite all the warnings, you have no choice but to pack and carry your move yourself, take note.
You should avoid any posture or effort that could cause muscle strains, tears, cramps or muscle pain from joint overuse.
Lifting more weight than recommended, or carrying it incorrectly, ends up causing mechanical injuries to the back and arm joints.
To avoid all these possible injuries, here are some tips that will cut the risk of ending up in pain and at the doctor’s.
Be Aware
Always keep in mind that it’s better to make several trips from the house to the van than to carry all the weight at once.
Likewise, be sensible when filling boxes. Stack things only up to a reasonable weight, even if you need more boxes.
Manageable boxes with a moderate weight mean more trips, but in a much safer way for your body.
Along the same lines, when heavy equipment or machinery needs moving, it’s always better to dismantle it and carry it in parts, rather than taking on the huge task of lifting it between several people.
Posture
When you have to lift weight or move large objects, the position you adopt during the work really matters. That’s where the difference is made.
Keep both feet flat on the floor, a sensible distance apart, with your knees slightly bent as you take the weight.
It’s always advisable to wear comfortable, non-slip shoes with a thick layer of cushioning to absorb your body weight plus the extra load.
Loads should be carried close to the body, keeping your back straight and not arched, and never with the load dangling from your arms. That last position is behind many shoulder and lower-back injuries.
The farther you hold the load from your body, the more strain you put on your arms and back.
To pick up objects or boxes from the floor, bend your knees until you reach them, and never start by leaning over with your legs straight. That’s how most mechanical lower-back strains happen.
At the start of the move, we recommend beginning with the lightest boxes and objects as practice, so you can perfect your technique and reach the harder items with enough control that there’s no room for injury.
Carrying and moving smaller, lighter objects also serves as a warm-up for the body.
Ask for Help
Taking on a move without the support of a specialised company is not a good idea, but if it has to be done that way, don’t try to do it alone.
Asking a relative or friend for help, or hiring a helper, will make things easier and reduce the risk of injury.
Carrying a heavy load between two people is a better idea than doing it alone. But don’t assume that because there are two of you, you can overdo the weight. Looking after everyone’s posture and not overloading the weight will help you finish the process tired, but in one piece.
As you can see, common sense and lifting weight correctly, with good posture, will keep you injury-free when you handle the move yourself.
Follow our advice and you’ll be convinced.
