It’s fun watching the snow fall in the comfort of your own home, but once it’s over, it can be a pain spending hours unburying your driveway and walkways.
Snow shoveling—especially heavy, wet snow—is an intense physical activity that does have its health risks. The Washington Post reports that individuals with coronary disease, as well those with risk factors (smokers, family history of heart disease, age, etc.) should be advised to avoid snow shoveling.
Moreover, people who do not exercise on a regular basis are also more likely to get injured. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2012, more than 34,200 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries sustained while shoveling snow. The Washington Post points out that the most common injuries were musculoskeletal strains in the lower back, shoulders and knees.
Try Elizabeth’s stretches before and after conquering the snow to help prevent and alleviate soreness in your back and shoulders :
For additional stretches and exercises like this, learn more about BodSpir®, a relaxing, non-strenuous strength training technique.