Landscaping with Dave
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Snow shovelling? If you are like me - lazy - you hate snow
shovelling.
It is cold, it has to be done early and I don't want to do it. Unfortunately
I, from time to time, am required to remove snow from our side walk. Snow
shovelling is one of the worse things for my back or yours. It is almost
impossible to do it with out risk but there are some things you can do to
give your back a fighting chance. |
First choice is get the wife to do it. If that fails go to the hardware store
and get one of the snow shovels with the bent handles. They may look odd
but it does help. Also I use and recommend a durable plastic snow shovel
because it weighs less and every ounce counts when that big snow storm hits.
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Next thing, don't bend over to scoop snow into the shovel. Stand straight
and push it along by holding the handle of the shovel towards the top.. When
you have filled your snow shovel, bend your knees, lift the snow shovel,
if right handed with your left hand near the scoop of the snow shovel, keeping
your back as straight as humanly possible. Use your legs to lift the snow
shovel. Then instead of tossing the snow. Walking as upright as possible,
walk the few steps, or many, and place the snow where you want it ( more
likely where the wife wants it ). No matter how lazy and tired you get DO
NOT twist your back! The twisting motion leaves your back vulnerable
to the worst injuries. |
One thing I have found lessens the load is to apply a snow melt agent or
even table salt at the first sight of a flake. This will work well unless
it is a very low temperature storm.
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Remember snow shovelling is one of the most strenuous exercises
and should be treated as such. No matter what the wife says, take breaks.
Do not over exert. The snow is not going anywhere and chances are neither
are you during a big storm.
If you follow all these directions you will lessen your chance of a sore
back but nothing will eliminate the risk entirely. I have found that the
first snow shovelling of the year always causes a little discomfort. I am
not a doctor ( I don't have the patience for medicine ) but I can tell you
that like a baseball pitcher after a game I down a couple of ibuprofen when
I come in from the cold and it seems to help. |
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