7 tips for safe snow shoveling

Every year, again, we are surprised by the snow and its cleaning is exactly when we have the least time. In this article, we will present some tips on how to avoid injuries, frostbites and bad mood during snow cleaning.

 

1. Warm-up and hydration

Before and after shoveling, make sure you have enough fluids. Dehydrated condition increases the possibility of damage to the spine and other joints during physical activity.

As with other physical efforts, warming-up is also recommended when shoveling snow, as the forces on the body are large and the movements are for the most unusual. We recommend at least:

– 20x squats

– rotating of the spine 20x

– rotating with the head 10x in each direction

– rotating the shoulder ring 20x in each direction

– rotating your wrists

In the event that we do not have time to carry out the warming-up, we suggest that at least for the first 5 min we shovel slower and with less snow on the scoop. Gradually raise the tempo and the amount of snow on the scoop.

2. Snow scooping

Try to scoop the snow as far as possible in the center of the scoop, as this will make the shovel less flicker to the left or to the right. This is where the wrist is most affected, as it is usually in an unstable position. A good ergonomic shovel will solve this problem with a specially shaped scoop, which directs the snow towards the center, a suitable handle geometry that prevents left or right overturning, and a thickened handle for a more stable grip.

3. Lifting snow

When raising the shoveled snow, we must make sure that we do not bow too much in the back, but we try to squat and raise the snow with our feet. If you will try to lift bigger weights, the closer to the scoop you have to hold the shovel with your front arm. For classic shovels, this is more difficult because they force us to deeper bows when we want to increase the weight. Lifting with wide shovels (40cm or more) is not advisable, since the load on the back is too large. Except with a good ergonomic shovel, where the incline is considerably smaller. In this case, we can also raise larger loads.

4. Pushing snow

When pushing snow, it is important to select the right shovel. In the event that the snow is dry or wet (up to 5cm), a wide shovel (up to 60cm) is selected. When there is a big amount of wet snow, we select narrower shovels (up to 40cm). It is also important to have a stable position of the wrist, since sometimes the pushes are rapid and jerky or may stuck. We recommend less strenuous pushing movements and active use of both arms. There are also shovels on the market, which have a control lever for ease of pushing, where the wrist is in a more stable position and allows for pushing even with one hand.

5. Throwing

Throwing snow with a shovel is usually the main cause of damage to the spine, because from a downward position, we strongly blow away the heavy snow on the side. This is a great danger for an untrained backbone. We suggest that you try to throw snow in front of you and not on the side. Also change the shovel hold from left to right (to 5min) to load the load on both sides of the back. During the throwing, make a slight aquat in the knees for better stability. The shovel should have a handle diameter of approximately 32-35mm in order to have better grip and control over the loaded shovel.

6. Cold

Use gloves as needed, but not too thick. With sweaty hands, you will get cold easier than with dry. Some shovels also use an efficient PVC-insulated handle or wooden, which has excellent insulating properties. In this case, your gloves will probably be redundant.

 

7. Choosing the right shovel

Choosing the right tool can greatly reduce the risk of injury. The best choice of EFEKT ergonomic shovels is that they help us with their innovative designs in more everyday and stable positions of the spine and wrists. They are available in two widths, 38cm for heavier snow and 58cm for more dry and light snow. You can also choose between two ergonomic handles. Lightweight aluminum handle ALU or new ergonomic wooden handle of hybrid design WOOD.

 

You can read more about the snow program here