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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) – Heavy lifting might not immediately come to mind when you think of the holidays. But every year thousands of Americans strain their backs trying to rearrange furniture to accommodate the Christmas tree or lift that wide-screen plasma TV into the attic crawl space so the wife will be really surprised on Christmas morning.
“Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America, and the holidays are definitely not a good time to risk injuring your back,” says Tom Dent, a veteran appliance mover and inventor. “Most adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives. And it usually occurs because we lifted something too heavy or lifted a manageable load in an improper way.”
The holidays bring unique situations that can lead to back strain. Many people rearrange furniture or completely redecorate their homes in preparation for holiday guests. Others attempt to lift large, heavy gift items without the proper support or tools. And after the holidays, returning furniture to its original location and even taking the Christmas tree out of the house present moments when back injury can occur.
Dent offers the following tips to keep your back healthy and yourself in the holiday spirit this season:
* If your holiday decorating plans require you to move some furniture to accommodate a Christmas tree or other decorations, plan your rearrangement before you lift a single piece of furniture. Knowing where everything will go before you begin moving things will streamline the process and eliminate any need to move heavy items more than once. Repeated moving, or deciding where a piece will go while you’re lifting it, can lead to back strain.
* Clear a path. When you’re up to your elbows in gift boxes and wrapping paper, it’s easy to find every available inch of floor space covered. But before you lift that load, make sure you’ve got a clear path to your destination. You won’t be able to see well or move obstacles out of your way once the load is in your arms.
* When lifting a load, keep your back straight and bend your knees. Keep your head up and look straight ahead to ensure your back remains perpendicular to the ground. Hold the object securely and use the large, powerful leg muscles to lift the weight. Avoid twisting or turning at the waist when lifting. Turn your entire body by moving your hips first, which will force your shoulders to stay in line.
* Use the right tools for the job. Hand trucks should be used to transport smaller items of furniture or large, boxed gift items too heavy or bulky to lift on your own. They work great on level ground or even gentle inclines, but hand trucks aren’t good for moving items up or down stairs. Hand trucks can also damage floors and are difficult to maneuver around tight turns.
After years of professionally moving furniture and large appliances, Dent set out to invent a better way to manage large pieces of furniture and appliances. He created the Shoulder Dolly, a patented harness system that allows users to lift with their legs and safely lift very heavy, large loads – from towering Christmas trees and big screen TVs to entertainment centers, dressers, mattress, sofas, appliances and virtually any heavy or bulky item in the home.
Working in two-person teams, users strap into the Shoulder Dolly, slip the carrying strap under the item to be lifted, and then use their leg muscles to lift the weight. The Shoulder Dolly helps users keep their spines aligned, which in turn encourages lifting with the legs, rather than with the back.
To learn more about the Shoulder Dolly, or to find a retailer near you, go to www.shoulderdolly.com or call (800) 217-1114.
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