5 Tips to Shovel Snow Safely

Do you love shovelling snow off your driveway - or dread it?

When winter weather hits, sometimes it leaves us having to dig ourselves out of our homes. BUT shovelling snow is one of the top ways you can end up hurt during the winter, and sidelined from doing what you love even after the roads have melted free

Stay safe the next time the white stuff falls with these 5 Tips to Shovel Snow Safely

5 Tips to Shovel Snow Safely

#1 - Use a smaller shovel. A bigger shovel holds more snow, which means you're moving much more weight with each pass. More weight = bigger risk of injury! Yes, using a smaller shovel means that clearing your driveway will take longer than with a big shovel, but quality motion that's SAFE is more important to your health and well-being than speed

#2 - Warm up before you go out. Shovelling snow is a form of exercise, so warm up your body just like you would before a workout at the gym. Stretch and get the blood flowing to your muscles before you ask them to do this work you

#3 - Scoot the snow, don't pick it up. Snow is heavy. Especially if it's wet snow or mixed with ice. Picking up a shovel full of snow increases your risk of injury. Instead, scoot the snow off of your driveway whenever you can

#4 - Do a mini-squat, and push the floor away when you do have to pick up a shovel full of snow. Sometimes, the snow falls in a way that scooting it off your driveway just isn't going to work, and you're going to have to pick up shovels full of snow to clear off the pavement. To lift that shovel safely, keep your spine straight up and down, with no twisting or "I'm a little teapot" bending - and bend at the knees to do a mini squat. To raise up, tighten your abs, keep your spine straight and push the ground away with your feet

AND

#5 - Don't shovel if you don't have to! The safest thing to do is to skip the shovelling altogether, if you're able to. Either stay home and enjoy your snowday, letting the snow melt naturally, hire a service to take care of clearing the driveway for you, or invest in a snowblower to lessen how much physical stress your body experiences during the next snow storm

Did you find this list after you cleared the driveway, because now you're hurting and wondering how to avoid the pain next time?

Let's see if gentle chiropractic care is what you need to get you back to feeling your best, and get you free to enjoy the day again!

Call me direct for a free phone consultation: (636) 751-3150 (or text "Consult")

Be safe in that winter wonderland!

~Dr. Vicky