4 Tips to Avoid Injuries on Moving Day

Moving can be one of the most stressful times. From the daunting task of figuring out how to squeeze your worldly possessions into one or two trucks to the amount of time you’ll need to spend sitting on the side of a freeway while trying to merge with traffic, all while lines of cars honk at you, it’s never an easy process.

The process can be riskier if you’re moving out of your townhouse complex or just need to move a bookcase into your living room. There are ways to avoid injuries that frequently happen on moving days.

All it takes is some planning and preparation, and moving day will be much easier than you imagined; here are some tips to avoid injuries on moving day.

Lifesavers for Moving

Tip 1: Lift With Your Legs, Not Your Back

One of the most common mistakes people make when moving is using their backs to lift heavy objects. This is a mistake because it puts you at risk for injury and also makes it much more likely that you will drop the object.

Lifting with your back can cause back injuries, so instead, try lifting with your legs. Bend at the knees and lift with your thighs and glutes. That way, you’ll be able to get the job done without hurting yourself.

Tip 2: Wear comfortable shoes

On moving day, one of the most important things to remember is to wear comfortable shoes. If you’re going to be carrying heavy boxes or furniture, you don’t want to be in flip-flops. 

You’ll be doing a lot of walking, and you don’t want to end up with sore feet or ankles from walking around in your new place.

Make sure your shoes are sturdy and supportive but not too bulky or heavy so that they slow down your movement.

Tip 3: Wear moving gloves

Wearing moving gloves is a great way to avoid injuries on moving days. They protect your hands from blisters and cuts, which can be especially important if you’re moving into a new place where you don’t know the furniture layout or how to navigate it.

Remember that some gloves are made specifically for moving, and others are intended for other purposes. It’s important to ensure that the gloves you choose are safe for this purpose so you don’t end up hurting yourself.

Moving gloves can be found at most hardware stores and home improvement stores. They are fairly inexpensive, so they’re worth investing in if you plan to move often.

Tip 4: Do some stretching before moving day

Stretching before moving day can help you avoid injuries. Moving is stressful, so your body will be under much pressure. Make sure to do light stretching beforehand to loosen up your muscles and prepare them for the day ahead.

If you’re looking forward to moving on the day of your move, consider doing a few stretches in the morning before starting work. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand and prevent any injuries that might occur during the day.

Here are some stretches that will help keep you safe:

• Quadriceps stretch: Stand with one leg in front and one behind (duck-like). Reach forward until you feel a gentle pull in the front of your thigh muscle. Hold for 30 seconds, and then switch legs.
• Calf stretch: Stand with one foot on a step or chair and another flat on the ground. Lower heel as far as it will go without leaning forward or backward. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch feet.

Bonus Tip: Hire professionals

It’s tempting to try to move all of your belongings by yourself. If you’re moving to the same city and don’t have many belongings, this might be an option for you. 

But if you’re moving across town or the country, hiring professionals is probably best. 

Moving is hard work, and many things can go wrong if you try to do it yourself, from injury to damage to your property. It’s better to leave the heavy lifting up to a professional.

The tips above should help prevent the most common injuries on moving days. Even with them, there’s no guarantee that you won’t get injured somehow.

No matter how careful you are, it’s nearly impossible to predict any unexpected damage or injury that might occur while moving.

The best way to avoid injuries while moving or lifting something is to hire a professional moving company, like us (Orlando Express Movers), to do it for you. We’re confident that we can get your belongings from Point A to Point B in the same condition you packed them.