Save Your Back This Winter if You Shovel Snow

Winter has officially hit Fort Wayne, and now’s the time when we spend hours outside clearing off the driveway and sidewalks, and too many of us hurt ourselves when we decide to shovel snow. At Crescent Avenue Gardens, we believe the very best option for snow removal is a reliable, well-made Toro snow blower. And, the medical community tends to agree.

As local Fort Wayne Chiropractor,  Dr. Busch of Busch Chiropractic, states: “Without fail, every year around this time I treat many patients who have suffered with back pain due to shoveling. Unfortunately, shoveling snow can either end up creating a new painful condition or exacerbating an existing one. We see patients who have suffered a herniated disc due to a slip and fall while shoveling or over-excretion. If you already suffer with back pain, it’s best to leave the shoveling to a family member, hire a neighbor, or use a snow blower to avoid further complications.”

 

However, if you plan to tackle the snow this year with a shovel, follow these tips to avoid back pain:

• choose a sturdy, lightweight shovel that fits your height
• warm up and stretch before your begin
• wear sturdy slip-resistant boots and put down ice or sand for better traction
• start by shoveling lighter amounts and gradually increase
• keep your hands about a foot apart on the shovel handle for better stability
• push, rather than lift, the snow when possible
• when lifting use proper technique: keep your body squared to the shovel and lift from your hips and legs, not your lower back
• take breaks every 10-15 minutes to stretch and hydrate
• break the job into several sessions over the day, rather than over-exerting yourself to get it all done in one shot