When people say moving is a pain, they mean it! Moving is tough work – especially if it’s not something you do on a regular basis. It can cause various strains, sprains, and traumatic injuries that leave lingering memories of your move.
Knowledge of physical mechanics and techniques for moving large furniture, are both important to know in order to move safely. If you don’t have this knowledge (plus strong muscles), you could be at risk for experiencing the following injuries.
Back Strain
The most common injury associated with moving is back strain. Improperly lifting heavy boxes and furniture can lead
to strain around your spine. For example, bending from the waist to pick up a box, or lifting boxes that are too heavy for your physique, are often direct causes of injury.
Professional movers use tools to help offload this pressure such as dollies and moving straps. With professional tools, there are ways to reduce the risk of back strain.
Foot Fractures and Injuries
While moving, there is also potential to injure yourself by dropping an item rather than lifting one. Foot fractures are a common moving injury from dropped items. Dropping heavy items often results in breaking one or more of the delicate bones of the feet, which can be extremely painful.
Symptoms of a fractured foot include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the foot comfortably. If you experience these symptoms from dropping a heavy item on your foot, it is important to seek medical care to prevent further injury.
In addition to crush injuries, there is also potential for foot sprains or strains while moving. If you are moving items across an irregular surface, or stepping off a sidewalk while carrying boxes, watch your step to avoid these injuries.
Cuts and Scrapes
Sometimes moving can cause cuts or scrapes on your arms and legs. While some of these cuts may appear to only have superficial effects, others can go deep enough to require medical attention. If you cannot stop the bleeding of a cut or scrape after 10 minutes, or if the cut is visibly deep, seek medical attention.
Whenever possible, avoid picking up items with sharp edges and try to keep main walkways clear within your home, to reduce the risk of harmful cuts and scrapes that could lead to excessive bleeding.
At Browning Moving & Storage, we’re proud to offer professional moving services that can save your back, neck, feet, and more. For more information on services we offer, please call our Tallahassee location at (850) 576-1231 or our Lakeland location at (863) 683-6494.