How To Properly Move Your Heaviest Belongings So You Don't Hurt Yourself
Whether it's time for you to move into a new home or you feel like your current residence is in desperate need of a décor update, you might need to move some furniture around. If that's the case, you may also choose to take on the hefty task yourself. While you can certainly feel proud of the fact that you're obviously a strong independent person capable of tackling tough jobs on your own (without the help of muscle-bound weight-lifting professionals), you also don't want to hurt yourself in the process.
Frankly, you can suffer from some pretty brutal injuries while lifting heavy objects, according to First Health Physical Therapy. For instance, due to the pressure that your back is subjected to while moving something that weighs quite a bit, you can end up with a spinal injury, such as a pinched nerve or herniated disk. You can also put your muscles and tissue at risk while potentially finding yourself with painful tears, strains, sprains, spasms, and tendinitis. That's not to mention the fact that you can also end up with a hernia if you try to lift something that's too heavy, or attempt to do so in a wonky way.
That's why, in order to avoid unnecessary pain, you definitely need to know how to properly move your heavy belongings properly and safely.
Protect your back by properly lifting with your legs
If you need to move a chair, table, or rather sizable box of books, then you need to pick it up in a way that will give your body the best chance of avoiding injury. Orthopedic surgeon Stephen Liu, MD, who is the founder and chairman of Forme Science, told Well+Good, "Back injuries are the most common visit to orthopedic clinics — with the main culprit being poor posture from sitting or lifting. Lifting with your legs provides you the power and stability to move loads without injuring your back."
To do this effectively, make sure that your feet are shoulder-width apart before you begin to move. Now, move down as if you're doing a squat. As you do this, you want your chest to stay straight. Firmly grab whatever you need to pick up and as you lift it, keep yourself from squeezing the muscles in your backside and ensure that you're using the muscles in your core and in your legs to do most of the work.
Beyond that, there are a few other things that you can do to prevent unfortunate injuries while moving heavy possessions.
More key pain-preventing steps when lifting heavy items
Along with primarily using the strength of your legs when you lift heavy belongings, there are a few other things that you can do to keep yourself safe. For instance, start out by opting for comfortable clothes that let you easily move around, as well as reasonable shoes and gloves, according to Stor-It Self Storage. Additionally, you'll want to have the right equipment. That might include a dolly to transport the item, straps to keep the piece in place, and ramps to help you deal with stairs. Clear a path and free the way of anything you might trip over.
You'll also want to get in a good stretch before you begin. Finally, when you do the actual lifting, you should make sure to bend your knees as you move and keep whatever you're picking up against you instead of holding it out. Although taking these specific extra steps both before and during the process will help you to avoid serious injuries, you might still find yourself facing a few aches and pains afterward. Luckily, these should go away with a little rest and TLC.
At the same time, before you even attempt to lift a heavy object, be honest with yourself. If it's just too heavy, then do what you can to possibly make it lighter or call in a friend to help.