Many of us have endured the Wisconsin snow and are veterans of the winter seasons. Everyone knows waking up early and cranking the car 15-20 minutes before you leave or wiping snow off your windshield. But the worst is shoveling snow.
Shoveling snow requires movement using different muscle groups and at sometimes, high speeds. This can cause injury. To combat any injuries, we came up with a few tips next time you are shoveling snow.
- Lift smaller loads of snow, rather than heavy shovelfuls. Take care to bend your knees and lift with your legs rather than with your back.
- Use a shovel with a handle that lets you keep your back straight while lifting. A short handle will cause you to bend more to lift the load. Using a shovel that’s too long makes the weight at the end heavier.
- Take frequent breaks
- After lifting the snow, do not extend your arms to throw the snow; that places more pressure on your back. Instead, walk over to where you want to place the snow.
If you injure yourself this winter season, visit a physical therapist. At OST we are able to provide the highest level of care for every patient we see.
We make sure you:
- Get a comprehensive assessment.
- Are seen in a timely manner. (As little as 24 – 48 hours!)
- Understand your treatment plan.
- Receive treatment from a consistent therapist.
- Recover from your injury.
- Learn how to avoid injury in the future.