Tips For Shoveling Snow

With the large amount of snow we’ve received recently, it’s inevitable that many of us will find ourselves shoveling the snow from our sidewalks and driveways. At Balanced Wellness Chiropractic Physicians, we thought it might be a great time to offer some advice to help prevent the possible injuries that could result. Back injuries, along with other musculoskeletal injuries, are serious threats while shoveling snow. If you have a snow shovel that is ergonomically correct and involves little to no bending, you are much safer. However, here’s some advice for those of us still using our old, straight-handled snow shovels.

One way you can injure yourself while shoveling snow and ice comes from lifting and twisting. Whenever you lift and then rotate your spine, whether you are shoveling snow, lifting boxes, or moving furniture, you give yourself a higher probability of injuring your vertebral discs. Your discs are designed to act as shock absorbers and to protect the nerves exiting your spine. Whenever you lift and rotate you can put the discs in a position to fail. Whenever the discs fail they can potentially lead to disc herniations, which can be extremely painful. Simply turning your whole body whenever you dump the snow, rather than twisting at the waist, can avoid the risk of this particular injury. Raising and lowering the shovel by bending your legs and keeping your back straight will further reduce the risk of serious back injuries.

With the above possibilities in mind, I don’t want you to think you need to run out and buy a snow blower. You don’t even need a new shovel. All you have to do is make some slight changes to the way you shovel snow. If you are so inclined to buy a new snow shovel (and you can still find one in the stores), choose one that is ergonomically correct and requires the least bending possible. It’s also a good idea to choose a shovel with a plastic blade. Snow doesn’t stick to the blade nearly as much, which makes it lighter. They’re also usually a bit flimsier which limits the load they’ll carry, and therefore limits the load your back must carry. It may take you a bit longer to shovel your driveway or sidewalk, but it will be worth it in the long run for the health of your spine. As with any exercise, you should warm up first and stretch after finishing the job. Particularly, stretch your legs, arms and low back to help with any soreness the next day. Avoid applying heat to any soreness or injuries sustained while working outside, as this will only increase inflammation and exacerbate the condition. As always, get your spine checked regularly by your chiropractor, and if you experience pain or other symptoms after shoveling snow.