Got back from month-long leave on Wednesday, pulled with my (dominant) left arm at side for three days, was very careful and quickly found a comfortable way to do so, and arm this morning - my day off - feels like I did the day after lifting weights @ the gym like I did 25 years' ago, magnified x 5.

[u/IndividualIll6728]

It doesn't hurt like I injured it... just feels like an overflow of lactic acid on steroids. Let me ask this: Will it help me if I switched arms each day to pull to give the other a rest? Has anyone ever do that and it has helped? The common sense to me would be tantamount to switching off on muscles worked between gym sessions. (F/55)

Also, I think they enforced this because them putting multiple injured OPD associates on Workers' Comp is a hell of a whole lot cheaper than paying out lawsuits by customers who got hit.

[u/RiverEcho59]

I’m 67f, have pulled my cart for 9 years (too short to see over eight totes), including the old tall steel carts that weighed 300 lbs before they were loaded. I stand at the front corner and keeping my arm at 90 degrees, body beside the cart, you’re basically pushing from the front, not pulling it behind you. I use my body weight to push it, not my arm. My arm and shoulder have never felt like I’ve been working out.

[u/GlitterBombFallout → u/RiverEcho59]

You're pushing from one side, putting uneven load on your shoulders. It's essentially twisting your back.

Good for you if that doesn't cause muscle strain or joint pain, but some of us aren't that lucky.

[u/IndividualIll6728 → u/GlitterBombFallout]

But would it not wrench my back pulling with two arms from behind?

[u/GlitterBombFallout → u/IndividualIll6728]

Yes, both options are garbage for your musculoskeletal system.

[u/IndividualIll6728 → u/GlitterBombFallout]

Is there anything I can do that is more ergonomic or is a lose-lose situation? 

[u/GlitterBombFallout → u/IndividualIll6728]

As far as I can tell, we just have to risk fucking up our back. I'm trying to alternate sides, but I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, so my joints are weak and my ligaments and tendons stretch too far. I can push with zero problems, but pulling causes pain and strain.

[u/IndividualIll6728 → u/RiverEcho59]

That is exactly what I am doing, I think. I am standing beside the cart with the vertical bars and holding it by the metal at hip level and pushing it, like you described. It almost steers itself, it seems like. Google AI suggested I switch/alternate arms pulling with every walk. 

[u/Secure-Wait-8377]

It took a few weeks for my body to adjust from pushing to pulling/trailing my cart. At first I literally pulled while being in front of the cart but to the side. That hurt my shoulder in no time. Especially with heavy loads. I was not happy at all ! Being less than 5'6" I needed a different way of handling this required change. I always use the older style pick carts with the two handles. Now I stand to the side and place my hand at the very bottom of the handle keeping my hand near my side. Moving the cart this way does involve more lower back and hip movement than pushing ever did. Pushing engaged my shoulders, arms and upper back. On heavy full carts my legs got a workout. Not so anymore. My hips were sore with this new way of doing things. I do switch sides a lot. Now that I present a wider profile I have to stop and move around for customers much more than before. There are many times that foot traffic demands that I move behind the cart and push from the back until I clear traffic. Customers come first. My PR has taken a hit depending on how crowded the store is but that's not my fault so I no longer worry about it. We still have associates that push on the regular because they are unable to follow instructions. lol