Without a doubt, shoveling snow is one of the leading causes of back injuries during the winter months. It doesn’t have to be, though. With some simple snow shoveling techniques and wisdom, you can remove both snow and back pain this year.
The Right Shovel Matters Instead of a straight-handled snow shovel, opt for an ergonomic shovel this year.
Be Sure to Warm Up Just like running, lifting weights, or any other workout, your muscles are more prone to injury if they are cold. Spend a good 5-10 minutes stretching and warming up before you commence shoveling.
Lift Ergonomically When you can, you should push the snow aside. This avoids unnecessary lifting. When you do have to lift, use these ergonomic techniques.
Finally, try to keep your hands about 12 inches apart when holding the shovel. This position (depending upon your arm length) generally offers the greatest amount of stability, which reduces the risk of back injury. Pace Yourself Sure, you’d rather be back inside where it’s warm, but shoveling snow is not a race. During large snowfalls, shoveling smaller amounts of snow more frequently is a much better option than waiting until the snow stops and trying to shovel it all at once.
Watch your Footing Sometimes, it’s not the snow you have to watch out for, it’s the ice! Slippery conditions can cause issues with footing that increase the odds of injury from muscle strains and falls alike.
In Conclusion Keep these pointers in mind this winter and, hopefully, your snow shoveling will be an injury-free endeavor. Further, if you or anyone you know is in need of commercial snow removal services, please contact E.P.M. online or call us today at (517) 990-0110!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |