In Canada, we typically get a lot of heavy snow throughout the winter months. This means that shoveling snow is something that is going to happen. But there are correct and incorrect ways to shovel snow and if you are doing it incorrectly, this can lead to serious injury. It can cause back, neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain and issues. We have some tips to help you avoid these injuries by shoveling correctly.
- Warming up
The first thing when going outside to shovel is to dress properly. This means wearing a well-insulated jacket, hat, mitts, and boots that are slop resistant is essential. But before you put all of this stuff on and go outside, you need to warm up your muscles first because you are about to do a workout and don’t want stiff muscles. This can involve light dynamic stretches in order to avoid injuring yourself due to the strenuous activity of lifting and shoveling the heavy snow.
- Picking the proper shovel
You might find that there are a lot of shovels available, all different types, shapes, and sizes. Each of these shovels has a specific purpose. The best shovel to buy is an ergonomic shovel that you can calibrate to your body specifically.
- Lifting Method
It’s better to push the snow instead of lifting it. However, if you do lift, do it properly. When shoveling stay in a balanced position and aware of slipping. Bend your knees and keep your back straight and supported. Do not twist your body to toss the snow, instead step around towards the snow pile and toss once facing it. Move close to the snow pile, overextending your arms while holding the shovel will put excess pressure on your back and shoulders. Do not overload your shovel, scoop small amounts of snow when tossing, especially if the snow is heavy and wet.
Read More: https://mayaphysio.ca/blog/how-to-shovel-snow-correctly/
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