It has been a long winter for many people. Unless you live for winter sports, this time of year can be a challenge for many, especially with all the snow. One of the tasks we are burdened with here in the Northland is shoveling snow.

At least a few times every winter, snow shovelers come to the clinic with mechanical back pain, caused by injury to the muscles, discs, ligaments and tendons in the spinal area, often the result of overuse of the back, such as a long winter of shoveling. An overuse injury results from small repetitive micro traumas; one small event can cause the pain to suddenl...