Check Your Health: Snow-shoveling and back pain

(KUTV) William Sykes, a physical therapist with Utah Valley Hospital talked about shoveling snow and back pain.

Why does shoveling snow cause back pain?

• Bad posture
• Using the wrong muscles to complete the work
• Over-doing it

How can you prevent back pain from snow shoveling?

• Correct posture
• Warming up the back muscles
• Cooling down the back muscles after shoveling
• Proper foot wear

What are the stretches that can help?

• Single knee-to-chest
• Piriformis stretch
• Hamstring stretch
• Lumbar rotation
• Seated forward flexion