Aches and Pains…From Moving!
I spent all last Friday moving apartments and I’ve spent the last few hours (more like all day) today helping a friend move furniture.
Oh, the aches and pains.
Moving boxes, bins and furniture of all shapes and sizes, through hallways, doorways and through elevators.
What did I learn from this experience?
Doing this all day can lead to back pain.
First off, let me tell you, I much prefer lifting weights at the gym! At least the load comes in neat, compact packages and the environment is controlled.
Secondly, no one is immune for a sore back!
I’m pretty certain, with all my physical therapy experience, I used solid biomechanics when lifting, pulling, pushing, dragging all those items, but I still couldn’t escape the dull ache that crept into the base of my spine.
It just feels like I need to dig my thumbs as deep as possible into those tight bundles of irritated muscle fibres along my vertebrae and force ‘em to relax.
In fact, this is one of those occasions where acupuncture is extremely helpful in decreasing pain and improving mobility. I’m on my way to get myself needled.
End result: improved movement!
But the lesson here is more important.
Next time, it’s all about outsourcing. I will hire movers.
To your healthy backs.
Dev Chengkalath
December 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Could you please provide some tips on proper lifting techniques?
December 15th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
It would be very difficult to make a blanket statement when it comes to safe or proper lifting technique.
The type of lift would depend on all sorts of factors from the weight and shape of the object lifted, your own body dimensions, where it’s being lifted etc.
That being said, one of the most important factors for proper lifting is to use your hip musculature as much as possible (glutes, hams and quads)while keeping your low back as neutral as possible (the oft heard “tight core”).
Another important point is to keep the load as close to your body (or centre of gravity) as possible.
These are two of the more important “tricks” to lifting as efficiently as possible.
Dev