Snow shovelling can be a pain, considering that each shovelful of snow weighs about six pounds. That’s a lot of repetitive lifting, and wear and tear on your back. These back health tips will ease the hassle of clearing your driveway and help keep your back in shape.
Warm Up: A quick 10-minute warm up such as a walk around the block will kickstart your muscles for the activity ahead and help prevent injury.
Don’t Let Snow Pile Up: If the weather report calls for several days of snow, frequent shovelling will allow you to move smaller amounts of snow after each snowfall.
Pick the Right Shovel: Use a lightweight push shovel. If you’re using a metal shovel, spray it with Teflon, so snow won’t stick to it.
Push, Don’t Throw: Push the snow to the side rather than throwing it. Avoid lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow, and abrupt twists or turns.
Bend Your Knees: If you need to lift shovelfuls of snow, bend your knees, and use your leg and arm muscles to do the work, while keeping your back straight.
Take a Break: If you feel tired or short of breath, stop and take a break. Stop shovelling if you experience sudden or prolonged joint or muscle pain.
Keep Comfort in Mind: Layer your clothing so you can adapt to changing temperatures. If you become too warm while outdoors, simply remove a layer or two to maximize comfort.
Cool Down: After you’ve finished shovelling, cool down by taking a walk and stretching out tense muscles.
