You’ve probably heard the advice a thousand times from your parents, gym teachers, doctors, personal trainers, and everyone else—lift with your legs, not your back. Though the advice seems to lose some of its impact the more times you hear it, it’s very important advice nonetheless, and there is a reason you’ve heard it so many times before.

At this time of year, it’s an especially good time to remind ourselves once again about how important proper lifting technique is. The snow will start falling before you know it, and we’ll all be pulling out our shovels to clear our walks and driveways.  Because of the repetitive nature of shoveling snow, it’s actually very easy to injure your back if you aren’t taking precaution to exercise proper technique. Especially troublesome can be the heavy, wet snow and slush. Instead of simply using the shovel to “push” the snow off your walk or driveway, heavy, wet snow requires scooping, carrying, and dumping the snow. If you’ve every had to shovel this kind of snow before, you know just how difficult it can be to lift! Be careful and make sure you lift with your knees and legs and spare your back!

Unfortunately, shoveling snow is just a fact of life when you live in Wisconsin–especially around Milwaukee with all the lake effect snow–or any of the other northern Midwestern states. But we can at least make the best of it and try to stay safe while clearing snow. Stay warm and stay safe out there this winter!