Safe Shoveling Tips
| 01 February 2010
Stretch – muscles that are warmed up with a couple minutes of stretching will be more efficient with work loads compared to “cold” muscles.- Pace yourself – allow your body the chance to rest for 1-2 minutes for every 5-10 minutes of shoveling. Take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth to maximize oxygenation.
- Maintain proper body mechanics – keeping your abdominal muscle tight, back straight, and bending from your hips and knees will greatly reduce the stress on your lumbar spine. Avoid twisting to throw snow to the side, as this will produce additional stress on the spine.
- Get some help – If you have a large driveway, or are not in the best of health, then this would be a great option. You can find a friend with a snowplough, a neighborhood kid trying to make a buck, or a teenager sitting/sleeping in your house with a day off school who would be happy to lend a hand.
Here at BREAKTHRU, we are experts in both assessing and treating dysfunctions and injuries of the spine. We hope you take these tips and put them to use, but we are here to help if you suffer any strains or have any questions. I hope that everyone has a safe and healthy winter