About the author: Originally founded as Denver movers, Johnson Storage are leading movers in Colorado and other states. The company now has locations in Denver, Boulder, Centennial, and Colorado Springs in Colorado and also San Diego, Cheyenne, New Orleans, and Santa Fe.
For most people, moving boxes is not something that is done on anywhere near a regular basis. Other than the whole-house move, the only time most people move boxes is when venturing into or out of storage - be it the attic, garage, or dedicated storage facility - to retrieve some odds or ends. The last thing on most people’s mind when digging out winter clothes or old photo albums is whether he or she is using the correct methods to pick up or put down a box. This, of course, leaves most of us prone to some very serious injuries when we do make those occasional jaunts into storage.
Infrequency bears a lot of the blame for the injuries that can arise from improper lifting and lowering. Those who regularly move packages are reminded of what can happen, and have made habits out of good practices to prevent lifting and lowering related injuries. These injures, which frequently target the back, tend to impair three main areas: disc, joints, and muscles. As the areas affected differ, so do the injuries that can be imparted, ranging from muscle strains, to ruptured discs, to the complete destruction of joints. And, as these injuries typically occur on the back, mobility afterwards is limited to say the least.
So, how exactly does one prevent these injuries? What exactly are the correct methods for lifting or lowering? The easiest way to remember how to correctly pick up a package is start with your feet and work up.
Your feet should be about shoulder width apart and both pointed forward. Pointing your feet forward prevents undue strain on your ankles and allows for the knees to move easier. Bend at your knees. This is crucial; bending at the knees allows you to keep the rest of your body in line. Your hips and shoulders should be as close to vertical as possible, and both should be arranged in a line with the package.
Your arms should be at your side, roughly at a right angle, with your elbows tucked as close to your body as possible. This draws the package in and keeps it close to your center of gravity. You should also grasp opposite corners, ideally a lower front corner and an upper rear one, of the package. This provides control over the maximum cross section of what you’re lifting or lowering. Rock the package back onto one edge so that you can gain control over two opposite corners and raise in as smooth a motion as possible, standing up by pressing down with your legs rather than straightening your back.
When moving with the package, remember to pivot your entire body rather than twist. This helps to prevent joint injuries. Also bear in mind, that just like the flight attendants warn, the contents of your package may shift, so make movements slowly and surely. Avoid jerking movements, as these lead to strains.
Putting a package back down should be done in much the same method as picking the package back up. Make sure that your feet are a comfortable, shoulder-width apart. Bend at the knees in a fluid motion, and try to keep your shoulders and hips vertical and perpendicular to the ground. Place on edge of the package onto the surface and slowly lower the remaining weight.
These best-practices might seem a little much for a grabbing the holiday decorations from storage, but they are key to helping prevent injury. The holidays are a great deal less fun when coupled with a sore or injured back. Taking the few seconds extra to ensure that you lift or lower packages during you occasional trips to the storage unit will pay dividends.