When you go downstairs and look at that giant projection television that was all the rage in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, it doesn’t take long for you to realize how far technology has come. With the inclusion of sleek, narrow and much lighter flat screen TV’s, consumers smile when they look at their new toy. However, consumers start to cringe when they think of moving or getting rid of the giant heavy box that still remains. What was once the beloved center piece in your entertainment room and/or man cave is now that which you loathe when thinking of the effort, pain and energy that will go into moving it.
Fortunately, there are professional junk removal companies that tackle these beasts on a daily basis. Granted, they probably share the same grimace or frown when they first look at it, but it doesn’t take long for them to go into execution mode and get the problem taken care of. It is within these setting however that home owners, renters and movers alike can both benefit from using proper lifting techniques. Here’s a little information about how to avoid more excruciating pain than what you endure when paining over how to get rid of it.
For starters, it’s back to basics: Life with your legs and not with your back. This may sound like a cliché because you have probably been hearing a version of this, if not this very statement, for most of your life. However, it’s a cliché, or common saying, because it is true, time tested and approved. When you put a majority of the weight on your legs and get low with the lift, it puts less strain on your body overall, which is extremely important to the longevity of your back! When you go to He-man something and only slightly bend over before you lift because you think you are going to lift it with your pipes, you are only creating stress on your lower back. Trust me, you will feel it later in the evening and will end up with a heating pad or a hot bath.
You have to get low on these heavy items like old TV’s and treat the lift like your entire body is in motion at the same time. When you get a good shoulder width apart stance and bend your knees with your butt to the ground, you are off to a good start. You do need a good grip and will use your back in a sense, as well as your arms, but it’s using all those parts in unison that will lead to an effective and safe lift. When the brunt is on your legs and you do everything else in unison, you will be just fine.
The next time you let your inner alpha male get the best of you, consider the pain and effects of lifting a heavy object incorrectly. When you have an aging item that is collecting dust, consider hiring a junk removal company to bear the burden so that you can save your back and still have the peace of mind after you have your space back and the clunker gone!