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Home & Garden

Sorry, you're shoveling snow all wrong

Does your back hurt after shoveling snow? Here's why—and how to fix it.

Three snow shovels against a colorful background. Credit: Reviewed / Suncast / The Snowplow / Garant

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Anyone who grew up in snowy climates knows there are three things that are inevitable: Death, taxes, and a late winter snowstorm. While a random six inches of powder can make a mid-week commute treacherous, it can also kill your back if you're not prepared for it.

Let's face it, most of us don't really put much thought into how we shovel snow until we tweak something. It turns out, we're not naturally as good at shoveling snow as we might think. In fact, a study by the CDC showed that from 1990 to 2006 an average of 11,500 Americans wound up in the emergency room for snow shovel-related injuries.

The most common one? You guessed it: Back injuries.

From ergonomic snow shovels, to helpful accessories, it's pretty easy to improve your snow shoveling form. Here are some simple ways to get the snow off your driveway.

Get a better shovel

A person shoveling snow against a brick building.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The Suncast SC3250 18-inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo is our favorite snow shovel.

Your shovel makes a huge difference in how effective you are at moving snow. We recently tested the best snow shovels, and there's a surprising variety out there. Wide shovels, big shovels, small shovels, aluminum shovels, plastic shovels, shovels with metal blades, shovels without—it's a lot.

The honest truth is you should have more than one shovel, especially if you live in an area that gets a few storms per year. Our favorite budget pick is the Suncast SC3250 18-inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo shovel, which has an ergonomic handle. It's a sturdy go-to that should last for years, and its design promotes proper form by letting you lift snow without bending over as far.

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You can also add second handles to snow shovels and other long-handled tools with something like the BackEZ Back Saver handle, which gives you more leverage but still requires stooping over.

Either way, a backup shovel is always a good idea—and it means you can split the work between two people.

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Use better form—and don't forget to warm up!

shoveling snow off stairs
Credit: Getty Images / ziggy1

Dress appropriately for the weather to keep yourself warm without overheating.

The most important thing to remember about shoveling snow is that it's a workout. You can't just slap on some snow gear and expect to be ready to go. Snow, especially when wet, can be quite heavy. Treat your snow shoveling like any other exercise and do some light warming up—and make sure you are hydrated.

Personally, we recommend stretching back muscles before and after, and keeping your back as straight as possible while shoveling. And remember, lift from the knees—not your back. We love this shiatsu massaging pillow which helps knead tough back muscles while providing some much-needed heat. If you have any soreness or back pain, be sure to consult with your doctor about ways to treat it.

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Take care of the rest of your body

You’ll want to change your grip on your shovel to protect your arms and hands as well. Alternate shoveling right- and left-handed. It may feel strange at first, but you’ll give your dominant hand a rest. You can also switch up how to grip the bar at the end of the shovel, gripping it with your palm either under the bar or over the bar. Using different muscles reduces fatigue, and helps you shovel safely.

And remember: It’s slippery out there! Wear something on your feet to give you traction. If you don’t have good boots, invest in a pair of strap on cleats like Yaktrax so avoid slips and falls.

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Dress in loose layers that you can remove as you get warm, and stay hydrated—shoveling is hard work. It's not a good idea to shovel after a few eggnogs either. Drinking alcohol can leave you feeling warm when you’re actually getting colder, and make you less likely to notice when your muscles are getting strained.

If you start feeling pains in your chest, you get short of breath, or you feel light-headed, or sick to your stomach, take a break and check the American Heart Association’s warning signs of a heart attack. Better safe than sorry.

Take your time with deep snow

shoveling snow
Credit: Getty Images / Merpics

Pushing snow can be more effective—and safer for your back—than trying to lift heavy shovels.

If you have a foot or more of snow on the ground, don’t try to lift the whole pile in one shovel load. One foot of fresh snow can weigh anywhere from 3 to 20 lbs per square foot on your shovel, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A typical snow shovel can hold about 1.5 to 2 sq. ft. of snow, so you could be lifting a load weighing anywhere from a feather-light 4.5 lbs to a spine-straining 40 lbs.

Don’t take a chance with your back. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that you push your snow—and if you can’t avoid lifting snow, scoop it in small amounts, not by the shovelful. Clearing the show bit by bit may be slower, but it won’t force you to spend the next week lying on your couch with a heating pad under your back.

When you do lift the snow, think like a weightlifter. Keep your legs apart, your back straight, and squat to get the shovel under the snow. Don’t bend at the waist—keep your back straight, and safe.

Consider using a snow pusher

Another alternative for deep, heavy snow is to use a snow pusher, like the J&M Snowplow Pusher. The technique for using a snowplow pusher in deep snow is a little different than for lighter snowfalls.

To use a snowplow shovel in deep snow, you need to figure out where you’re going to build your snow ramp. You push your snow to the top of the ramp, then either tip your snowplow shovel to release the snow, or, if you’re using a snow sleigh, pull the handle back quickly.

You build the snow ramp as you clear snow from your driveway—always pushing the snow up the ramp instead of lifting it. With a big driveway and deep snow, these snow ramps can become very tall, but it’s still safer to push your snow up the side of your neighborhood’s new Mount Everest than to risk your back carrying hundreds of pounds of snow.

Another way to deal with deep snow is to shovel it when it’s still a light snowfall. Go out with your snow-pushing shovel once an hour during the storm and clear the new snow off your driveway. It gets old fast, and putting your boots and snow on again every 60 minutes is tedious, but it could save your back.

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Break up icy snow and remember the "inside-out" method

Getting snow off the ground is only part of the battle—you need to actually put it somewhere. Snow piles up quickly, and while making a giant pile of snow into a fort is a singular joy, it's also a lot of extra work.

For a mostly flat driveway we recommend the "Inside-Out" method. For wide stretches of snow this means you first shove a clean line down the center of the driveway one section at a time. Then you make my way down the driveway and shovel each side out horizontally.

This has a few advantages. First, you're always shoveling snow in front of you, so you don't have to twist you back. Second, it means you're usually moving snow the least amount of distance necessary. It also evenly distributes the snow around the driveway so it doesn't pile up excessively in any one place and you don't have to throw it any higher than necessary.

One other pro tip? Use your shovel's edge to cut the snow into "snow bricks" before shoveling underneath. Breaking up the snow into smaller chunks before shoveling underneath gives it room to move upward, so you're not just pushing the snow into more snow. This is especially critical when the snow is icy on top, or has been sitting for a few days. A straight-edged garden spade like the Fiskars Square Garden Spade has an easier time cutting through dense, icy snow than most shovels. Cut, then shovel.

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If the snow is light and fluffy and fresh? You may not have to lift it at all. In these cases you can often just push it around, removing the need to bend over and lift it altogether. “Snow pusher” shovels like the Garant Yukon with wide, half-circle curved blades make it easy to plow this kind of snow right off your driveway.

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Plan for the plow berm

It’s every snow-shoveler’s nightmare: working long into the night to clear the snow, going to bed, then waking up the next morning with an aching back and a wall of ice-covered snow blocking the driveway. The snow plow drivers aren’t out to get you, but sometimes it feels that way.

To keep town plows from creating a snow berm at the base of your driveway, you need to clear another place for the road snow to go. Clear a snow-storage area at the bottom right of your driveway as you see it from the street, facing the direction the plows come from, so the plows will push most of their snow load there. Put all the snow you’re shoveling off your driveway on the left.

While you’re at the bottom of your driveway, check to make sure that the mailbox has sturdy support, and that there’s a reflector on the side, so it doesn’t end up buried for winter or knocked over by the plow truck.

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