As snow piles up across the country, chiropractors are likely to see patients who’ve injured themselves while shoveling snow. Here are some recommendations from the chiropractors at Ideal Spine Health Center in Eagle, Boise and Meridian, Idaho, to minimize your risk of painful muscle strain or more serious problems such as a disc herniation.

Boise Chiropractor

  1. Spray your shovel with Teflon so the snow will not stick to it.
  2. Before you start shoveling, warm up for five or 10 minutes to get the joints moving and your blood circulating. Make sure you stretch your back, shoulders, arms and legs. If possible, do your shoveling in the afternoon rather than the morning. Many disc injuries occur in the morning. Because your body has been at rest all night, in the morning there is increased fluid pressure in the disc.
  3. Use a shovel that’s appropriate for your height and strength.
    • A shovel that’s too short forces you to bend more. A shovel that’s too tall makes the weight heavier at the end. A chest-high shovel allows you to keep your back straight when lifting.
    •  Consider a shovel with a lightweight plastic blade, instead of a heavy, metal blade.
    • Don’t waste your money on a fancy, ergonomic shovel. They tend to make it more difficult to lift the snow off the ground. In addition, it’s tempting to ignore proper posture if you think the shovel is protecting your back.
    • Get a shovel made to push snow instead of lifting it.
  4. Avoid bending and twisting your back. Always bend at the hips and knees, and push your chest out to keep your back straight. Lift with your legs. For heavier loads, place one hand as close to the blade as possible.
  5. Push the snow to one side rather than throw it, or walk it to the snowbank. If you have to throw, position yourself to throw straight at the snow pile.
  6. Shovel light to moderate amounts of snow per load. Take snow off the top in layers if you’re dealing with a heavier snowfall.
  7. Take frequent breaks.

See a chiropractor before you injure yourself. Gentle manipulation will help keep your back flexible and minimize the chance for injury. Of course, if you do overdo it, the chiropractors at ideal health can help you with your healing.

Chiropractors are acknowledged experts when it comes to relieving back pain.That’s because chiropractors are experts on the spine, which can become misaligned when you shovel snow, interfering with the communications between your nervous system and the rest of your body. Shoveling, as mentioned, can also cause disc injuries, and chiropractic treatment can help the disc heal naturally.

Chiropractors skilled in what’s known as Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) take this one step further – they correct and restore your spine back to alignment, through adjustment, exercise and “spinal remodeling.” CBT is the most-researched and results-oriented chiropractic care available.

Only a small percentage of dedicated and highly educated chiropractors are certified to practice this technique.At Ideal Spine Health Center in Eagle, Boise and Meridian, Idaho, we specialize in Chiropractic BioPhysics. In fact, Ideal Spine’s Deed Harrison is the preeminent authority on spinal health and CBP.Ideal Spine Health Center is the largest corrective chiropractic care facility in the United States.

Take advantage of our no-charge consultation to determine if you are a candidate for care at Ideal Spine Health Center in Eagle, Boise and Meridian, Idaho.