DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

When surveying snow covered ground, one’s first thought often relates to how to dig out.  The second thought should be whether one is physically ready to do so.  "If your body isn't prepared for shoveling snow, your chances of sustaining muscle pulls and strains will increase," said Dr. Susan Wainwright, vice chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).  "A lot of  'weekend warriors' who play basketball or football won't think twice about stretching before they play, but they'll carelessly go out and shovel snow without any type of warm up," said Dr. Wainwright. "Back injuries are one of the most common injuries when snow falls."

Regardless of whether one is regularly engaged in sports, it is always important to take time out to warm up and stretch before engaging in any physical activity, including shoveling snow from pavement and driveways. According to Dr. Wainwright, correct position is important when shoveling, and one should not overload the shovel or use one’s back to lift snow. "The back is not meant to do this type of activity," she added. "The back is supposed to be stable so that the arms and legs can move appropriately. You have to lift with the arms and legs, and then twist with the arms and legs. Injuries occur when people lift and twist with their backs."

Moreover, shoveling snow can be fatal. According to Dr. Wainwright, many individuals suffer heart attacks from the strain of lifting snow. She notes that men and women above the age of 45 who are not physically active should take extreme caution when they take to shoveling. "The heart is a muscle like any other muscle in your body," said Wainwright. "When it gets strained, it shuts down because it can't handle the increased load. Older adults who aren't that active tax their cardiovascular system when they start to shovel and this results in heart attacks. You have to remember that shoveling is hard work and you should take every precaution to not get injured or even worse."