Snow shovelling tips to avoid back pain

Winter is in full motion and we can’t wait for the white stuff !! to disappear but we still have a few more weeks to go before it will start to warm up. Here are some tips for shovelling to avoid back pain:

1. Bend from your hips and knees, “NOT” from your back
2. Maintain the curve in your low back, keep it neutral
3. Avoid holding your breath
4. Lift with your legs, not with your back
5. Avoid twisting motion in your back, step and face the snow
6. Wear proper footwear to avoid fall resulting in back injury
7. Avoid reaching too far and avoid lifting too much at a time
8. Try to push the snow when you can, instead of lifting it
9. Warm up and do few back stretches before shovelling
10. Take rest periods and do it in batches
11. Wear abdominal belt for extra support if you have history of back pain
12. If you suffer from any underlying heart conditions, hire someone to do it for you