Welcome to everybody’s 4th favourite driving season, Shelburne! Weather (pun intended) you like it or not, winter time is here and with the deep freeze, blowing snow and icy adventures on the road upon us, getting out that old shovel is for many of us a necessity. Dufferin County winters are notorious for dumping heaps of snow on the roads of the region and since many residents commute long distances to work, the last thing you want to do is injure yourself before you even get out of the driveway. Shoveling out of a storm does not need to leave you feeling stiff and sore! Shelburne Family Chiropractic is here to provide some helpful tips to help you clear your driveway without the all-too-common accompanying back, neck and shoulder pain!

• Warm up before you cool down!- What that means is take 10-15 minutes before you go out to shovel, get your heart rate up and stretch to prepare yourself for your workout. Also don’t forget to take breaks every 20 minutes because if you shovel for a significant amount of time, you will likely feel neck, back or shoulder pain in the coming days. Finally, don’t forget to try and stretch for 10 minutes afterwards. 
• Wear Proper Footwear- Shoes and boots with solid treads on the soles will help minimize the risk of slips and falls.
• Choose the Correct Shovel- Use a lightweight, non-stick, push style shovel. A smaller blade will require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your body. An ergonomically correct model, with a curved handle will help prevent injury and fatigue. You can also spray the blade with a silicone-based lubricant to allow the snow to slide off more easily. 
• Proper way to shovel snow- You want to push the snow instead of lifting and twisting. Lifting and twisting repetitively is one of the worst things you could do for your lower back. If you do have to lift the heavy snow instead of pushing it to the side, lift the shovel while keeping a neutral spine and turn to the side rather than twisting to dump the snow. Use your knees, leg and arm muscles to do the pushing and lifting while keeping your back straight. “Bend your Knees and Lift with Ease”!
• Treat an Injury with Ice- If you do have back pain a day or two after shoveling, you want to use ice, not heat initially. Put the ice on for about 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on at a time because if you put heat on right away it could cause more inflammation. 

If you do find yourself with muscle pain or other injuries that last more than 1 or 2 days, come in and see your friends at Shelburne Family Chiropractic. We are the experts at diagnosing and treating back pain to get you back to shoveling pain-free! 
~Dr. Richard Magder

What better day to start this new venture than the day after Halloween? This seems an appropriate time as any to take off the costume I’ve been wearing for the past 35 years as a big city resident that truly has a country soul. I’m Dr. Richard Magder and ever since I could remember, I’ve had the desire to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a more comfortable and quaint country lifestyle. Shelburne, Ontario has always held a special place in my heart as I’ve been drawn to the friendliness of the community as well as close access to many outdoor activities. My uncle Dr. Gary Magder has been practicing dentistry in the community for close to 40 years and when it came time for us to set up our chiropractic clinic, he didn’t need to advocate too hard for this community. As a place to raise a family and build a business, the town of Shelburne was always at the top of my mind. I could not envision anywhere else I’d rather be.
 
Having had the opportunity for the past few months to meet members of the community, we gathered many aspects that we believe Shelburne entails and decided to implement them into our new practice. My wife Alexandra and I have been working diligently to create a clinic that is equal parts warm, inviting and family oriented and we are excited to become involved with the Shelburne community. We believe that promoting an active and healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance in any community. As a health care provider, I’m pleased to be at the forefront of creating a more active, happier Shelburne family.

Like the entire Shelburne community, I consider myself open, friendly, and I never take myself too seriously. Need anymore evidence that Shelburne Family Chiropractic is a great fit for this community? Check out my introductory video and see for yourself: