Posted on 12/14/2013 4:39:26 PM PST by rickmichaels
A University of Calgary grad student says a “goose-neck” shovel is the best way to deal with snow.
"Bending isn't what's causing lower back pain. It's not that you bend less, there has to be a load that is causing the pain. We went one step further to show that because of that lower flexion, there is that reduced load as well.”
American studies have shown roughly 12,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for snow-shovelling injuries, and the most common injury is to the lower-back.
"It was a very relevant topic to Canadians, so I thought it would be an interesting one to look at because no one’s really done that before,” said Lewinson, who studies biomechanics.
Lewinson focused solely on which is best for lifting the snow, since that motion is often the most backbreaking.
"We were primarily interested in looking at lower back flexion to see how much bending people were doing when using one type of snow shovel or the other," said Lewinson. "What we found is that when you use the bent shaft snow shovel, you don't bend over quite as much."
The bent shaft shovel also reduced mechanical loads on the lower back by 16 per cent.
"I think that's a pretty substantial reduction," says Lewinson. "Over the course of shovelling an entire driveway that probably would add up to something pretty meaningful."
Lewinson, who is part of the Faculty of Kinesiology's human performance lab, conducted the snow shovel study when he was an undergraduate at the University of Ottawa.
He says the study was limited at looking only at the lifting component of shovelling, which means he can't be sure if a "regular" shovel might be better for pushing, chopping or throwing snow.
The study was published in the latest edition of Applied Ergonomics.
The SNO-Easy has a small scoop, and you basically use only your arms, in an easy, efficient motion, to use it.
evil polluting non green devices are not even considered.
You want a good shovel, find a straight wooden handle, wide steel bladed snow "pusher"........
The handle ain't gonna break and the shovel head ain't gonna bend or break either. It'll last you a lifetime.......
Gotta go shovel snow now, see ya...........
Then your neighbor does not know how to operate the machine.
no way square foot to square foot a shovel is faster than a proper snow blower.
I prefer to do it manually so I breathe out a lot a carbon dioxide. That works up an appetite so I go in an have a rib eye steak from one of those methane farting cows.
Keep all the snow on nearby mountains is how we do it. It is close by if you want it.
Perhaps the best invention since the Ames Bend!
Excellent invention.
I think I’ll get one to shovel the snow from around my hovel.
Oh wait — there isn’t any snow around my hovel.
Never mind.
Fixed my snow shovel problem. Moved to Phoenix.
flamethrower would probably work better.
I live in Alabama. Not an issue here.
One key is to Wax the shovel. Snow slides right off and doesn’t stick.
But they take too long for the light fluffy stuff. This is where I use a wide scoop, even plastic is OK.
SW Pennsylvania "blesses us" with all types. Another trick I use a lot is keeping the driveway as black as the ace of spades before the snow falls. This absorbs heat from the sun and starts melting the stuff even in the low 20s. The Mrs. will often take the wide plastic shovel out and just push off what little is left just before sunset. She's not keen on the square point. That's a substantial shovel by weight even without the snow. If it is required, I get to do it when I get home at night. She does have a hot supper waiting when I'm done, though.
You need one of these. If you've been good, it'll fit in your Christmas stocking.
Total garbage.
If the points of force, fulcrum, and resistance are the same distance it makes no matter the shape of lever.
What utter superstitious garbage!
(The shape could improve the orientation of the shovel- and probably does- but not “the lifting component of shovelling”)
I have a better way of painless snow removal, Florida.
That looks good. It’s not available on Amazon, which surprises me.
I chose Door #2, Monty. It’s been great except for the fact this place is thoroughly infested with liberals.
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