Most adults will agree: moving often tends to be a stressful life event. It involves constant heavy lifting, marveling at how much stuff has accumulated over time, and it may even cause accidents. Moving can also agitate some health problems, as it puts considerable strain on your back. Before your next move, review these five tips to protect your spine throughout the process.
Use Proper Lifting
This is the most important step to any moving process. Bend at the knees in a squatting position and get a good grip on the object with your whole hand. Lift in one fluid motion using your legs, not your back. Try and keep your back as straight as possible throughout this whole process. Avoid twisting your back when walking with the load.
Ensure You Can Easily Grip the Load
Some items such as large boxes or oddly shaped objects are difficult to adequately grasp. You want to make sure that you can grasp the item fully and tightly, as readjusting may mean twisting and bending, causing a large amount of pressure on the spine.
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Check the Weight of the Load Before You Pick it Up
A small box does not necessarily indicate minimal weight. You can strain your back immediately if you assume that a small object is light and go directly to pick it up. Push the item lightly to find out its true weight. If it moves easily, great. If not, you may have saved yourself a lot of back pain.
Distribute the Weight of an Object Evenly
You should check the weight distribution on every item before lifting it. If a box doesn’t have an equal weight distribution, you’ll constantly have to compensate while carrying it, which will cause a lot of back strain on one side or the other. You should also confirm that the items in the box will not move upon lifting. An unexpected weight shift while you’re carrying an item can spur serious damage.
Prepare the Load in an Easy Position
The item should be in an easy position to grasp and pick up. You don’t want to bend your back in an attempt to reach the item, and for all loads that need to be lifted over your head, try using a ladder to minimize the lifting distance and mitigate potential strains.
We all know that despite our best efforts, and even with all of these tips, accidents may happen. In the event of an injury, don’t delay treatment. Contact a reputable chiropractor immediately to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Good luck, happy travels, and here’s to a risk-free move!