All this snow over the past day or so means that a lot of people will be doing a lot of shoveling to clear their driveways and sidewalks.
If you have to shovel that snow, Orillia Chiropractor Dr. Tim Silvester has some advice on what you shoud be doing to avoid any back injuries and what you should not be doing.
He says the most important thing is to do some warm up exercises before you even pick up a shovel.
Dr. Silvester says that can include running on the spot or knee bends to streach the muscles in the lower back.
He says you should do about five minutes of this before tackling that snow bank.
Dr. Silvester says when you do start shoveling, people should avoid trying to throw the snow with a twisting and turning motion.
He says its best to push the snow to one side then lift the snow without twisting your back.
Dr. Silvester says if you do feel some pain, stop shoveling and put a cold pack on the sore part to try and relieve the inflamation.
He says if the pain continues its best to seek a professional consultation to try and find out what is casing the back pain.
