Injury Free Moving

Avoiding Injury While Moving Yourself

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I am moving to a new apartment next month and have enlisted the help of a few friends to move instead of hiring movers. Turns out, we aren't the "spring chickens" we were four or five years ago, and I'm starting to worry I'm going to end up taking someone to the emergency room with a slipped disc or something. What can we do to make sure we stay injury-free on moving day?

Sincerely,

DIY Mover 

A:

Dear DIY Mover,

Back and overexertion injuries all start in the head. You heard me right -- they start in the head because that's where people think they can do what their body isn't fit to do. They listen to those thoughts, overextend their bodies, and injure themselves. Then to make things worse, they don't stop -- they keep moving with an injury, not listening to the pain as a warning sign to slow down, and they further the injury.

Here are some tips to prevent injuries while moving: 

* If you can afford help, get it. Why risk lifting and injuring if you don't have to?

* Pace yourself. Don't do too many things in one day. Plan out everything you want to DIY, and then map out a safety calendar so you're not doing everything in one day or one weekend.

* If you're macho, don't have anyone around because you know you're going to try and impress them by lifting too much for too long and when you strain your back or some other part of your body, your ego won't let you stop. You'll want to look like Mr. Macho, and you'll just keep on going -- until you hit the doctor's office, limping in pain. Work alone if your ego is over-inflated. No audience equals no showing off.

* Buddy up. Get a buddy to help out so you don't have to do everything alone.

* Know the proper way to bend and lift so that your back is protected. Believe it or not there are right and wrong ways to lift and bend.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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