How to prevent accidents and injuries when moving home<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n10 Proper lifting techniques: How to properly lift heavy objects<\/h2>\n
Interestingly enough, underestimation and overestimation can be your worst enemies when you are required to lift heavy items during your house move. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of the proper lifting mechanics, and do not overestimate your own abilities and physical strength to lift and carry heavyweight objects come Moving day.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, your knowledge of the proper lifting techniques will enable you to keep everything running smoothly and more importantly \u2013 safely. Here\u2019s how to lift heavy objects properly in order to prevent injuries and avoid damage.<\/p>\n
1. Always think before you lift<\/h3>\n
Hasty actions can be your archenemy when lifting heavy things on your Moving day. Make sure you complete an initial assessment of the task ahead of you to determine whether or not you can handle the load safely. Discuss the situation with your friends. Resist the temptation to prove to yourself or to your pals just how strong you are.<\/p>\n
2. Keep a stable base<\/h3>\n
Always keep a wide and stable base with your feet before lifting heavy objects. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with one of your feet slightly forward. This way, the weight of the item you\u2019re trying to lift and carry will be distributed across your entire body without putting too much pressure on one particular area.<\/p>\n
3. Have a proper back posture<\/h3>\n
Improper lifting techniques often result in some form of back injury \u2013 something you must avoid at all cost. Adopt a proper back posture \u2013 always keep your back straight, your shoulders back, and your look straight ahead. Your upper back should be as straight as possible while your powerful lower limbs are doing the hard work.<\/p>\n
4. Bend your knees, not your back<\/h3>\n
Speaking of right lifting techniques, remember to always bend your knees, not your back. This simple yet crucial detail cannot be stressed enough! Bending your knees will allow you to use the strong leg muscles to power the entire lifting operation, while at the same time it will reduce the pressure from the much weaker back muscles.<\/p>\n
5. Keep a good grip<\/h3>\n
Make sure you have a firm grip on the heavy object before attempting to lift it. It\u2019s always a good idea to wear work gloves of good quality that will improve the grip significantly and will protect your fingers and hands during the move. Whenever available, use handles to minimize the risks of accidents.<\/p>\n
6. Have items close to your body<\/h3>\n
While moving heavy boxes, for example, always keep them close to your waist \u2013 that is, relatively centered in relation to your body. This is an excellent way to maintain your stability because the load will stay close to your center of gravity. Also, keep your elbows tucked in and your eyes upfront at all times.<\/p>\n
7. Move your feet, do not twist<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s important that you do not bend or twist your back when lifting and carrying heavy furniture and boxes on Moving day. Instead of turning with your hips at the waist, what you should do is move your feet to turn together<\/u><\/em> with the load.<\/p>\n8. Move slowly and smoothly<\/h3>\n
Avoid doing any sudden and abrupt movements that may place a surge of enormous pressure on a certain part of your body. Always make slow and smooth movements allowing the muscles and soft tissues in your body to have the time to adapt to the extra efforts. Also, make sure your footing is as secure as it can be, and take only small and carefully measured steps \u2013 one at a time.<\/p>\n
9. Keep the load below waist level<\/h3>\n
Whenever possible, lift heavy items up to your waist. When lifting fairly heavy things over your head, you will put extra strain on your arm and back muscles which may lead to injury. Weight distribution in such cases is critical! If the load you\u2019re trying to lift over your head turns out to be more than you can handle safely and its weight is not distributed evenly, you may easily pull a muscle.<\/p>\n
10. Push rather than pull<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re using mechanical aid in the form of a furniture dolly or if you\u2019ve just placed sliders under the legs of a super heavy furniture piece, then be mindful that it\u2019s safer to push heavy objects forward than to pull them backward. This way, you\u2019ll not only need less force to keep heavy items moving, but you\u2019ll also be able to see what\u2019s happening in front of you.<\/p>\n
Good to know:\u00a0Common moving injuries: types and prevention techniques<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a good reason why the home moving process is always associated with lifting and carrying around heavy things such as furniture pieces, electric appliances, and filled cardboard boxes. In reality, moving to a new home does come down to lugging around heavy objects \u2013 safely, of course. And unless you have made the sensible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8,5,10,6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n