The nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping so it won’t be long until the snow arrives! It can be a tricky time for you and your back so here are some tips to keep you safe and avoid injury this winter:

Good Footwear:

Welly boots may seem practical but actually offer you little support and are difficult to get off, especially with back pain!
Wear shoes with a sole that has grip.
Wear ones that you can lace up to give you more support around the foot and ankle.
Use 2 pairs of shoes, one to walk in and one to drive in so your feet don’t slip on pedals.

Clothing:

Wear a padded jacket that goes past your waist to cover your hips. If you fall it’ll add extra padding.
Try not to keep things in your pocket that may hurt you if you fall.
Gloves give extra padding to your hands if you were to fall.
Try not to walk with hands in pockets, you may need them to grab something if you were to slip.

Falling:

Although not a natural reaction it is best to relax!
If you do fall, try and curl up and roll to cause the least jarring to your body.
Avoid putting your hands out as this easily causes wrist injuries.

Snow and Ice:

Avoid walking too close to the edge of the pavement so you don’t slip into traffic.
Look out for black ice in shadows and under trees.
When scraping car of ice, use the right implements, stand on a stable surface and don’t over-stretch!
When shovelling make sure you bend knees and keep your back straight.
Avoid twisting during this strenuos activity as you may not be used to it and it can cause injury.

STAY SAFE, BE INJURY FREE AND ENJOY THE SNOW!