Hello,
We hope you enjoyed our last newsletter, this one has been taking some time to get to press…but here it is.
WINTER IS HERE…
Slips and Falls:
In these frigid days of winter, we have been seeing a lot more of people slipping and falling on the ice. Here are some of Dr. Belleau’s recommendations:
High heels are the worst, there is no traction and not a lot of stability,
Rubber or rough soles work the best.
And always remember, ice can be lying under fresh snow.
Shoveling:
When shoveling
snow, one of the most important things is to make sure you're on firm footing.
Falls are dangerous in themselves, and unstable footing contributes to very
dangerous contortions as you shovel.
If you happen to be digging yourself out for the morning commute, don't make do
with the wingtips or the high heels you're wearing. Get a pair of boots with
good traction, and try to avoid standing directly on ice.
Don't be in too much of a hurry. Rushing leads to many of the ergonomic errors
that can turn 20 saved minutes of shoveling into weeks or years of pain.
Starting with the shovel, you want a long handle, so you can minimize bending
over. And you don't want a scoop that holds more snow that you can safely
handle.
When shoveling, it's not a good idea to throw snow over your shoulder, or do
anything that involves twisting your spine while lifting weight.
The less movement of your spine, the better. When you shovel, bend your knees to
dig in, then straighten them to lift. Rather than twist to the side to deposit
the shovel's contents, step to the side and thrust the shovel forward, all the
time keeping the weight as close to your body as possible.
There is a new device available to help with shoveling, it is called the BackSaver Grip and you can find out more information by going to their website at http://www.backsavergrip.com. The BackSaver Grip was featured on NBC’s Today Show and HGTV’s I Want That.
Upcoming
Events:
Seroogy’s
Valentine’s Run/Walk
– Saturday, February 9, 2008
5K Run/Walk
15K Run/Walk