Snow Shoveling tips to help reduce back injury: .Be prepared. Spray your shovel with Teflon so the snow will not stick to it. The more snow that stays on the shovel, the heavier it gets and the more chance for injury- and frustration. Do a warm-up first. A tight, stiff body is asking for injury. A few minutes of stretching can save you a lot of pain later. When you are shoveling, don't forget to breathe. Holding your breath makes you tight and stiff Use the right size shovel. Your shovel should be about chest high on you, allowing you to keep your back straight when liftng. A shovel with a short staff forces you to bend more to lift the load. A too-tall shovel makes the weight heavier at the end. Also keep one hand close to the base of the shovel to balance weight and lessen the strain on your back .Use proper posture.When you do shovel, bend your knees and keep your back straight while lifting with your legs. Push the snow straight ahead; don't try to throw it. Walk it to the snow bank. Try to shovel forward to avoid sudden twists of the torso and reduce strain on the back See your chiropractor. Gentle spinal manipulation will help keep your back flexible and minimize the chance for injury.If you do overdo it, your chiropractor can help you feel better and prevent more injury. -Chiro One Please Call 260-824-9944 to schedule a free consultation. SELL CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC Specializing in low force adjusting 1169 N. Main St., Suite 6 Bluffton, IN (Cooper Commerce Center) 260.824.9944 fx: 260.824.9945 Dr. Shelley Toth Dr. Rica Sell