6 Tips to Avoid Injury While Shoveling Snow

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As mid-Atlantic residents dig themselves out from the snow, literally, doctors say they should listen to their bodies and not overdo it.

"If you're not a regular exerciser or you're in poor physical shape, your body won't be prepared for the stress of shoveling snow and you increase your chances of sustaining muscle pulls, back injuries, and strains," said Dr. Susan Wainwright, vice chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. "Snow shoveling can also strain the heart and cause potentially life threatening injuries, such as a heart attack."

In 2007, more than 118,000 individuals were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and other medical offices for injuries related to snow shoveling or manual removal of ice, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. More than 16,000 were injured using snow blowers. Injuries ranged from sprains of the back and shoulders to lacerations and even finger amputations.

If you're wishing that snow could magically melt at once, here's what that pipe dream would look like: The density of new snow ranges from about 5 percent when the air temperature is 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) to about 20 percent when the temperature is 32 degrees F (0 degrees C). So if you have, say, 20 inches (50 cm) of snow at just-freezing temperatures, the water equivalent would be 4 inches (10 cm).

Wainwright offers snow-shoveling tips to help you avoid the emergency room:

1. Warm up. Before digging in, jog in place or run up stairs and stretch to get your muscles warmed up.
2. Use an ergonomic shovel. Ergonomically correct shovels are typically much lighter than normal shovels and have a contoured handle that's designed to reduce or eliminate bending and decrease lifting. Remember, each shovelful of snow can weigh some 20 pounds (9 kg), according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
3. Use the proper shoveling technique. Push the snow instead of lifting it, and be sure not to overload the shovel. If you have to lift, bend your knees and lift with your legs (not your back!), and avoid twisting or throwing snow over your shoulder.
4. Take breaks. Every 15 minutes or so, stand up straight, walk around, and drink water to avoid dehydration and overheating.
5. Listen to your body. Pay attention to your body's signals, such as pains, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort.
6. Don't shovel: Some people simply should ditch shoveling duties. Wainwright recommends that men and women over the age of 45, especially those who are not physically active or have a history of a heart condition, let someone else do the shoveling.

"The heart is a muscle just like any other muscle in your body and when it gets strained, it shuts down because it can't handle the increased load," Wainwright said. "Older adults who aren't active tax their cardiovascular system when they start to shovel and this often results in heart attacks."

For those who are fit enough to shovel, the wintry obligation can be a form of exercise. A 145-pound person burns almost 400 calories an hour shoveling snow, according to the AARP.

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