Most common injuries during DIY move and how to prevent them

There are plenty of difficulties that folks face during relocation. From broken items and delays in schedules to lack of packing materials, it all can happen on your big moving day. Rarely it happens that a move goes without a hitch. However, these types of challenges and problems shouldn’t be your only concern during your upcoming relocation. When moving on your own it is very important to be aware of the possible injuries. Lifting, packing, and unpacking can be very risky. However, the more you know about the possible injuries, the better you can prevent them. That is why we are sharing with you the most common injuries during DIY move.

The best way to avoid the most common injuries during DIY move

This might sound like obvious advice but we must put it out there. The best way to avoid getting injured during your move is by hiring professional movers. Surely hiring professionals is very pricey, but it is a well worth investment. Naturally, you will save plenty of time and spare yourself from the inevitable stress of your relocation. But, that is not all. Since your movers will be doing the heavy lifting for you, the chances of getting hurt are minimal. If you still haven’t secured reliable and experienced movers for your moving day, you can always contact Verified Movers.

Dad pushing a cute little girl in a cardboard moving box.
Be careful during your relocation, not only because of yourself but because of your entire family.

 

Most common injuries to watch out for when moving on your own

Of course, moving with the help of professional movers is the best possible way to get the job done. Nevertheless, this type of relocation might not be an option for all. Sometimes our budgets won’t let us hire assistance, while in other instances professional help might not be available when we need it. In any case, your move isn’t destined to fail. However, you will need to roll up your sleeves and get the job done on your own. You will the driving force behind the organization of your move but also with facilitating all the tasks. So, let’s see which injuries you should look out for and what are the best possible ways to prevent them from happening.

Back injuries

Our back is a very important part of our body that is constantly being used. We aren’t even aware of how much we depend on our back during everyday tasks until we injure it and can’t use it. During your move, there is a lot of lifting going on. Some things might be easy to lift, such as small boxes filled with light items. At the same time, moving kitchen appliances and packing them is a different story. Naturally, heavy items are the biggest risk to your back. Yet, lifting small items can also cause back problems if not handles with care.

A man rubbing his back since he sustained one of the most common injuries during his relocation.
Having the proper lifting technique is the best possible way to walk around a back injury.

To avoid such injuries do your best to watch your form at all times. Lift with your legs! Hence, provide power to your body from your knees and leg muscles. Consequently, you will avoid lifting with your back and bending at the waist. This way you will minimize the chance of damaging your back.

Injured hands, toes, and fingers

When talking about the most common injuries during a move, we just cannot neglect to mention hurt fingers, toes, and hands. Even though these injuries might seem small, they are very painful and take a long time to heal. Not to mention they disrupt every single daily activity. During a move people often get distracted, their focus drops and these are the instances when injuries happen the most.

That is why you must be sure to always be on the lookout for dangerous situations where items can be placed or dropped on your hands, fingers, or toes. Also, make sure to communicate well and clearly with other folk participating in your move. While you might be on the lookout for potential injuries they might not be. By clearly communicating you will eliminate many instances where these small, but mighty body parts can get injured.

Scrapes and cuts

There are many things that you must know before your interstate relocation or any other type of move. One of those things is certainly avoiding getting cut or even worse. Sharp edges of boxes and furniture are an invite to a future accident. That is why wearing long layered clothing items is an excellent idea. Especially while carrying items, loading, and unloading the moving vehicles. The more skin you cover, the more protection you will get.

Knee injuries

Along with your back, your knees are in big jeopardy during your move. As we mentioned, they are used for lifting, and there are plenty of chances during your moving day to injure them. Since there is no alternative body part that you can use to spare your knees during your move, you must think outside the box. Look for items that can get the job done instead of your knees. Such objects that can help you slide items instead of carrying them are an excellent solution to this problem. Of course, if you already have bad knees you must be extra careful. A knee brace or a knee pad can be just what the doctor ordered while doing all the heavy lifting.

A leg with Band-Aids placed across the knee.
Those that have bad knees already should be extra careful during their move. The slightest wrong movement can cause a reinjury.

There are other common injuries to look out for during a DIY move

Unfortunately, we were only able to cover with you the most common injuries that are staring you in the face during your relocation. You should also watch out for sprained ankles, muscle strains, dehydration, etc. By now you are aware that lots of things can go wrong during your move. However, keep in mind that you have the power to prevent them. Now that you are well educated on how to avoid unwanted situations during your move, make sure you forward the message to the rest of your moving party. Happy moving!