As the winter is rolling in (particularly with our first snow fall of the season this past weekend!), let’s review the importance of taking care of yourself while doing the inevitable: shoveling. Shoveling can take quite the toll on our bodies if we don’t use proper form and technique. Ensuring proper form and stretching afterwards can help avoid the inevitable back injury. Check out these quick tips as a reminder:
Proper Form
- As your mother always said: use your legs to lift, not your back! Ensure that you are using a squat pattern to lift snow instead of lifting through your back to avoid injury.
- No Twisting! Make sure that if you have to lift snow to get it out of the way that you are turning your whole body to throw it to the side, not picking it up and twisting to throw it to the side.
- Try to push as much as possible, not lift!
- An Ergonomic shovel can go a long way to ensure you’re in a good position to shovel snow.
Post-Workout Stretching
Hamstring Stretch
Child’s Pose
Piriformis Stretch
Hip Flexor Stretch
Doorway Stretch (open up the shoulders and restore good posture!)
For more information on our Fitness or Physical Therapy programs at Dedham Health, visit our website, here!
-Meghan J., Physical Therapist at Dedham Health