What’s the best way to lift boxes to avoid injury? Congratulations! If you’ve selected U-Pack to move you cross-country, you’re saving money by doing your own packing and loading (and letting us do the driving). But before you start the process of packing up boxes and loading them into the trailer or container, I’ve got some great tips on the best way to lift boxes to avoid injuring yourself on moving day.
How to Lift a Box
Clear your path. Make sure there are no obstacles in your path. You need a clear pathway when moving boxes. Watch for hazards like rugs or doorways that may cause problems.
Wear non-slip shoes. Flip flops are not ideal for moving day. Wear closed-toed shoes with non-slip soles.
Stretch. Take a few minutes to warm up for moving, like you would warm up for a workout – walk around and stretch your muscles. Starting physical activity with cold muscles isn’t ideal.
Test the box. Nudge the box to see if it is too heavy. If it seems like more than you can handle alone, don’t attempt to pick it up.
Squat. Take care to use proper form. Rather than bending at the waist, squat down to pick up the box, keeping your back straight.
Get a firm hold on the box. Use both hands.
Lift with the legs. As you stand, lift with your legs (not your back), keeping your back straight. Stand up slowly, straightening your legs as you go.
Hold the box close. Keep the box close to your body at waist-level to avoid straining your arm muscles.
Turn with your feet. When you need to turn, turn by moving your feet. Don’t twist your body. You can injure your back by rotating at your waist.
Walk slow and steady. Walking too fast could result in losing your balance.
Use help. If the box is too heavy, have a friend help you. Or use a moving dolly. If you need more help, U-Pack can recommend affordable moving help that can assist with the big stuff (or your entire move). Get a free moving quote here!
Taking care while you’re moving so that you don’t injure yourself while you’re lifting boxes will make the whole moving process much more enjoyable. Happy moving!
Name: Sylvia Jordan Date: 3-18-2013
Nice article! This would be very helpful since I’ve just purchased large house moving boxes for my move this week. This is my first time to move to another house, and I find this article very useful. The last thing I want to do is to injure a mover and incur charges.
Date: 3-18-2013
Nice article! This would be very helpful since I’ve just purchased large house moving boxes for my move this week. This is my first time to move to another house, and I find this article very useful. The last thing I want to do is to injure a mover and incur charges.