Four Techniques To Remember When Shoveling This Winter

January 8, 2018

Schedule a Consult

Shovel away your low back pain this winter! Snow shoveling often leads to low back injuries, so it is important to practice proper shoveling techniques to avoid these injuries.

4 TIPS FOR SHOVELING THIS WINTER SEASON

1. PROPER STRETCHING:

Warm Up: Think of shoveling like exercise; never start shoveling without a quick warm up! Get your heart rate up with a short walk or jog on the tread-mill or with a bike ride on a stationary bike.
Stretch: Focus on stretching the areas that are most engaged during shoveling: hamstrings, shoulders, and low back.
- Stretch #1: Touch your fingers to the ground (or as far as you can go without bending your knees)
- Stretch #2: Raise your arms straight above your head and slowly stretch your neck on each side.

2. SELECT THE RIGHT SHOVEL

Sharp Blade: Just like a good knife, a sharp shovel blade allows you to move the most amount of snow efficiently.
Light Weight: A light snow shovel will alleviate much of the weight required for lifting (don’t underestimate the weight of snow by itself – it can get dangerously heavy).
Correct Length: When choosing the length of the shovel, make sure you are not bending forward, or leaning back too much.
- Pick a shovel that has an adjustable handle length (so you can share the duty with other family members!).
- Before purchasing your shovel, try it out at the store by simulating the act of shoveling.

3. LIFTING TECHNIQUES

Only lift when absolutely necessary! If you can push the snow to the side for a plow to pick up or for it to melt.
Bend at the hips and knees – never the low back.
Engage your abdominal muscles and keep your back straight; Don’t twist your back when changing positions
Position one hand on the handle and the other near the shovel blade.
Don’t throw large amounts of snow from the shovel; rather walk to the location where you want the snow deposited.
Wear boots with proper gripping and apply sand or salt on the snow to prevent falls.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Just like when you lift weights, take breaks during sets, ie; shovel for 10-15 minutes, and then take a 5 minute break.
Let your body dictate how many breaks you need and always stretch during them.
STOP shoveling if you feel short of breath, dizzy, or experience chest pain. If these symptoms do not subside, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
STOP if you experience sudden sharp low back pain or pain shooting into your legs.

Using these simple guidelines will help free your car, and your back pain!

Virginia Spine Institute’s reputation is unmatched as a world-renowned luxury destination in spinal healthcare, dedicated to providing an elevated level of concierge care for those suffering from neck and back conditions. For three decades, their proven methods have led them to dramatically improving the quality of life for over 100,000 patients, from 32 countries.

People seek care from Virginia Spine Institute because of their elite team of board-certified spine-specialized physicians offering unique approaches to safe and effective back and neck pain relief. As one of the few centers that begin treatment with non-surgical options before recommending surgery, 90% of their patients get better without spine surgery. Through a comprehensive model, Virginia Spine Institute is able to offer regenerative medicine, non-operative treatments, minimally-invasive spine surgery, and physical therapy through their team of spine specialists.

The team’s dedication to detail and patient success is a shining light in the field of spinal healthcare. As pioneers and leaders in this field, they have also accomplished many of the world’s firsts in spine surgery by using modern treatments and cutting-edge technology not offered anywhere else.