Many parts of the country are huddled indoors in a bid to stay clear of the cold, but if you live in an area that is susceptible to snowstorms, then there may come a time when you have to brave the elements just to clear your driveway and the sidewalk surrounding your home. This situation provides ample opportunity for an orthopedic injury, but you can reduce your chances of falling victim to such a dangerous situation by thinking about the tips included in a new report from Popular Mechanics.
Your first stop should be speaking with a family physician near the start of the season. A physical is a good idea for persons of pretty much all ages, as it could reveal certain conditions that should prompt additional care while you shovel, if doing so is even advisable at all.
If you’re given the all-clear, then your first stop will be using the right shovel. Instead of relying on that gnarled metal juggernaut that has been occupying your shed for 30 years, maybe it’s time to upgrade. A plastic shovel may be ideal because of the way it doesn’t create unnecessary weight and how it can easily lift snow.
The guide linked to above notes that a shovel standing on end ought to bring the handle to about chest-height. When a handle is too long, it creates excessive strain by the time you lift the snow (imagine that the shovel is a lever; the further away the weighted portion gets from you, the harder it is to lift and keep elevated). On the other hand, an excessively short handle will cause you to stoop in an unnatural way that could put a lot of pressure on your back.
Strive for the middle ground, and to allow yourself to skate by on as little work as possible, the author recommends taking some cooking spray and putting a coating of that substance on the end of the shovel. When you do this, you ensure that the snow won’t get stuck there, thereby allowing you to get the proper amount of snow out of your way every time.
We’ve talked before about how the best way to shovel the snow is to not have to lift it at all. Simply push the snow forward until it reaches its terminus. However, if circumstances dictate that you need to lift, always get your legs into the action, regardless of how light you may think the load is.
Finally, you could possibly avoid all these hassles by investing in a snowblower. Of course, you must also strive to reduce lifting and awkward motions with this, but it won’t require as much manual labor as a simple shovel.
For more advice, click the link up top.