Shoveling snow should work your arms, not your spine. But every winter, emergency rooms fill up with people who lifted one heavy scoop and regretted it.

I threw my back out shoveling when I was twenty-five, and it took a week to recover. Since then I have learned the technique that keeps the driveway clear and the back intact.

Push the snow instead of lifting it

The best move in snow shoveling is not a move at all. Push the snow to the side instead of scooping and lifting it. Pushing uses your legs and body weight, not your back. This clears light snow fast with almost no strain.

Use your legs, not your back

When you have to lift, bend your knees and keep your back straight. Squat down to the shovel, grip it close to your body, and stand up with your legs. The shovel does the work, your spine stays neutral.

Take small loads

A heaping shovel of wet snow can weigh twenty pounds. Half a shovel of wet snow weighs ten. More trips, but zero back injuries. The driveway still gets cleared, it just takes a few extra minutes.

Switch sides

Most people shovel with the same hand on top the whole time, twisting their spine with every throw. Alternate your grip and throw snow to both sides. Balanced work keeps the back from locking up.

Warm up first

Cold muscles tear easily. March in place for a minute or do a few gentle bends before you head out. Treat shoveling like exercise, because it is.

Know when to stop

If your chest hurts, you are short of breath, or your back is complaining, stop. Snow can wait, you cannot. Heart attacks during shoveling are real, especially for older adults.

I clear my driveway in under twenty minutes now, pushing most of the snow and lifting only what I have to. The back has been fine for years.