Winter weather is here, and snow shoveling is a common chore—but it comes with real dangers. Doug Price from Advanced Rehab and Sports Medicine in Aledo warns that many people underestimate the physical strain.
“But if you think about it, you know, if you’re not in the best shape, if you haven’t been, you know, doing much cardio, you haven’t been lifting anything, you get these people out there that are trying to lug this really heavy, wet snow, you’re doing it with poor mechanics, your heart rate’s going up. I mean, there’s a lot of other things worse than bad posture, bad mechanics, and low back pain. I mean, there’s things that obviously shoveling snow can do.”
To stay safe, Price advises working in smaller sections, pushing the snow instead of lifting it when possible, and taking frequent breaks. Don’t let clearing snow lead to an injury—or worse.