Medically reviewed by Dr. Alan S. Bader, DC — Chiropractic Physician, Nevada License B-567 · Dr. Bader · Dr. Doyle · Last reviewed: July 2026
Sierra storms drop heavy, wet snow — and every cycle, the same injury walks into Reno clinics: the shoveling back. It's among the most preventable injuries we see, and January has kept this office busy since 1993. Here's the prevention protocol.
Why shoveling injures so many backs
The recipe: a cold, unwarmed spine + repetitive flexion + load at arm's length + the twist-and-throw. Each element multiplies the others; the throw is the killer — rotating under load is exactly how discs and facet joints get hurt.
Add Reno-specific realities — heart-rate spikes at altitude in the cold, berms that refreeze into concrete — and 'just clearing the driveway' becomes a legitimate athletic event you didn't train for.
The protocol
Warm up indoors first (two minutes of cat-cow and bodyweight squats beats none). Push, don't lift, wherever the snow allows. When lifting: small scoops, hips and knees doing the work, load close to the body — and walk the snow to where it goes instead of throwing it. Switch sides regularly. Take breaks by the load, not by the finish line.
Ergonomic shovels with bent shafts genuinely reduce flexion; lightweight plastic scoops beat grandpa's steel relic. If a snowblower is in the budget, your spine votes yes — just don't wrestle a stuck one with your back.
If it grabs you anyway
The classic shoveling spasm — a back that seizes mid-driveway — usually calms with relative rest, gentle movement within tolerance, and cold in the first day or two. What it deserves is an examination: spasms guard something, and finding what (a joint restriction, a disc irritation) is the difference between a one-week story and a February-long one.
Red flags don't wait for the storm to pass: leg numbness or weakness, saddle numbness, or bladder changes mean emergency care now. Chest pain, pressure or unusual breathlessness while shoveling means 911 — hearts fail at driveways every winter, and no driveway is worth it.
This page is education, not medical advice for your specific situation — an examination is how care decisions get made. If you may be experiencing an emergency, call 911. Full medical disclaimer.
Related: Strains → · Low Back Pain →