The American Physical Therapy Association says there are things you can do to make shoveling snow a little less stressful for your body. They recommend:
* Shovel in the afternoon if you can. More slipped discs occur in the morning when fluid pressure in spinal disks is higher because your body has been at rest all night.
* Warm up your muscles before starting a strenuous task. Do a few stretching exercises so the work doesn’t come as a shock to your body.
* Freshly fallen snow is lighter than snow that has had a chance to pack down. If you have a choice, clear it when it stops falling or before.
* Push snow out of the way when you can — don’t lift. Pushing requires less effort.
* Lift smaller loads of snow rather than heavy ones. Always try to bend your knees and lift with your legs instead of your back.
* Don’t lift and twist. Step into the direction you are throwing the snow. When doing a driveway, shovel at right angles to the edge so you can toss the snow forward.
* Take frequent breaks. Go inside to warm up and rest for a time.
* Use a shovel that fits. Find one with a shaft that is about chest high on you, which lets you keep your back straight when lifting. Using a shovel with a short shaft causes your back to bend more to lift the load. A shovel that is too tall makes the weight heavier at the end.
Of course, one of the best pieces of safety advice is still to get a snow removal service or recruit a strong young person to do it for you. You can find people who have the right equipment, want to do the job, and know how to do it safely.
