Northwest Iowa — With the snowfall we’ve received over the past 24-hours or so, and the snowfall that’s forecast for the weekend, lot of us here in northwest Iowa are going to be doing a lot of shoveling. Physical Therapist Donna Ihnen of Sanford Sheldon has some tips for moving that mountain of white stuff.
Ihnen says the first thing you need to do before shoveling snow is prepare.
Once you’re prepared, she says it’s important to choose the proper shovel for the job.
When you have selected the right shovel, Ihnen says how you grip it is important.
Finally, she says your posture is important to keep from hurting yourself when you shovel.
Ihnen reminds you to lift with your knees, and try not to twist your body as you move the snow. And, she says, like any form of exercise, if your body tells you it’s time to take a rest, pay attention and take a rest. Go inside, warm up, and take a drink of water before you return to shoveling. She says it’s best if you shovel for 20-minutes or less at a time, and then rest for a bit. And if you experience chest pains while you shovel, stop and seek immediate medical attention.
