Injuries related to snow removal are nothing to mess around with. Although getting your driveway clear so you can head to work is very important, keeping your spine in line and avoiding injuries is even more important.
Practicing the best snow shoveling techniques will help you avoid pain while being productive in your snow removal ventures.
Here are some of the best snow shoveling techniques you should consider:
Lighten your load: Don’t overwhelm yourself or your shovel. It might be tempting to try to scoop up a large section of snow at once so you can get done faster, but you are actually likely to hurt yourself doing that. Instead, lighten your load by filling it with smaller amounts of snow, which allows you to avoid straining yourself and move a little faster.
Don’t throw: When you scoop up a shovel-full of snow, you probably want to toss it to the side or over your shoulder. That’s actually not the best idea. Instead, you should walk to where you want to dump the snow and shake it off of your shovel there. This avoids unnecessary strain on your upper back, shoulders, and arms.
Stand properly: You don’t need to bend over and strain your spine in the process. Instead, you want to squat and use your legs. Keep your back straight, separate your knees, and squat to pick up the snow. Then, use your legs to raise yourself up with the snow on your shovel. Keep your arms close to your body to keep the weight centered. You don’t need to use your back.
These are some of the best snow shoveling techniques for a reason. They help you avoid some of the most common injuries tied in with snow removal.
Getting More Help
Sometimes, depending on the snowfall and the time of year, you may need professional assistance or a different type of snow removal method. If so, TalkLocal is a great resource. With one search, we will go find you companies and professionals that can help AND get you on the phone with them in a matter of minutes.
