Shoveling without injury: eight mistakes to avoid

Photo archives Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY

QMI agency

Saturday, December 23, 2017 13:21

UPDATE
Saturday, December 23, 2017 13:23

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Montréal receives an average of 210 inches of snow per year and Quebec city 300 cm. Considering that each shovelful of snow weighs an average of 5 kg, the removal can be quite demanding. Especially the back is vulnerable to this type of effort.

According to the canadian chiropractic Association, 31% of Canadians believe that the shoveling is not foreign to their muscle and joint pain.

Each year, chiropractors are seeing an increase in consultations after each significant snowfall.

“The patients that we receive in the clinic after a storm of snow are present mainly with pain in the lower back, neck, and shoulders,” said Dr. William Corbin, chiropractor and vice-president of the Association des chiropraticiens du Québec, in a press release.

The risks of injury are even greater when the pelleteur has a pre-existing condition which makes it more vulnerable to stress.

Eight errors

To avoid a visit to the chiropractor in the next few months, here are eight mistakes to avoid during the sessions of shoveling :

• Turn only your upper body to deposit the snow ;
• Lean back keeping the knees straight to lift a load ;
• Taking large scoops hard to grow or raise ;
• Throw the snow over your shoulder ;
• Use a shovel of the wrong size or too heavy ;
• Hurry to finish quickly ;
• Wait until the end of the storm before shoveling to avoid having to start again ;
• Neglecting to warm up before shoveling.