By Dud Eddy
When it comes to shoveling snow, doing it wrong can lead to back pain. Save your energy and take care of your back with the following six essential tips.
- Warm-Up Before Shoveling
Shoveling snow isn’t just a chore, and it’s a complete exercise for the body. Your arms, legs, back, and the entire base of your body contribute to the effort of clearing snow from your driveway.
But why stretch, to begin with? You wouldn’t try to lift weights or go for a long-distance run without stretching and warming up. So, it would help if you didn’t shovel snow without making sure your muscles are prepared for it. With a bit of stretching beforehand, you can warm up your muscles, get the blood flowing, and avoid the risk of injury.
- The Right Tool For Your Job
When was the last time you took a good look at your shovel? Is the height the right one for you? Is the handle curved or adjustable? Is the shovel too heavy for you?
A proper snow shovel should save you time and energy by preventing you from making up for its shortcomings. A good shovel should only force you to bend your knees slightly, not double yourself.
- Choose The Correct Position
Once warmed up and with the correct shovel in hand, the next step is maintaining a correct posture. Therefore, you must systematically:
- Use the leg muscles to lift and push snow, but not the back;
- Keep your back straight when bending or standing;
- Trust your shoulder muscles whenever possible;
- Keep the snow shovel close to your upper body;
- Keep one hand near the metal part for better leverage;
- Avoid twisting your upper body when throwing loose snow.
- Hydrate And Rest
Remember what we said about shoveling snow and exercising the whole body. This is also the case for breaks and drinking water.
Exhaustion and dehydration are sometimes the cause of a lack of form, usually due to poor posture and injury. It is best to get as much rest as you need before you have to lie down all the time because of a back problem.
- Get Organized And Start Early
For snow removal, nothing beats a helping hand! Don’t hesitate to call on them if you have friends, neighbors, or family who can help you.
Starting earlier will also make your job easier. By removing a few inches of snow each day, you will be less likely to injure yourself or risk your health rather than waiting 30cm of snow to get to work.
- Stretch And Start Again!
At the end of any good workout, you should be back to your average temperature. This is also the case after snow removal.
You put away your shovel and removing your shoes. Now take the time to stretch your tired muscles properly. And without forgetting to admire your beautiful alley, also think about your body by adding liquid!
If you have ever spent hours clearing away the next few days swallowing aspirin to relieve your pain, you will be happy following these valuable tips and avoid future ailments. Read about earth development
