Proper Tips for Shoveling Snow

For those of us living in the Midwest, North Central or Northeast states, shoveling snow is an annual (and dreaded) event. Scooping up heavy piles of that snow is hard work for your back muscles. Impatience or over-enthusiasm can cause you to pull a muscle or suffer from nagging backaches. Shoveling "pros" recommend that homeowners use curved shovels versus flat ones; they retain snow more effectively. And select a shovel that is of reasonable weight. If it's slightly smaller than the other ones in the hardware store, sure, it might take you longer to do the job. But if you're continually lifting a heavy shovel, you could hurt yourself. Make sure that as you're lifting your snow-filled shovel, you're bending your knees. Don't twist your back and toss the snow over your shoulder. That movement, when repeated continuously, will promote backaches.