An ergonomic snow shovel is designed to reduce the strain by using the principles of biomechanical stress. It shifts lower back pushing tasks above the hip level. Traditional snow shovels exert push force from the hands vertically to the position of the hips. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, then most likely you also have a back problem. Shoveling snow is probably something you shouldn’t even be doing, but you may not have a choice. Even if you have your driveway plowed, you probably need to still do the walks to the front door, sidewalks and such. So…. let’s be smart about it. Here are some products I’ve found that will help reduce the stress on your back and also reduce fatigue.

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Please note that all opinions are my own and are not intended to be taken as medical advice.

Best Ergonomic Snow Shovels

Strain Reducing Snow Shovel w/Spring Assisted Handle

Snow Joe Shovelution Strain-Reducing Snow ShovelBuy on Amazon

This Sno Joe snow shovel greatly reduces the effort, strain and potential injury that is involved in shoveling snow. It uses the muscles of your upper body to do the lifting and throwing. Then it sends lifting leverage to the lower hand. This ends up reducing back strain by 30%.

The spring-loaded, ergonomic shovel grip captures the expended energy from the act of throwing the snow, to quickly return and reset the shovel making it ready for the next load.

See the Snow Joe Shovelution Snow Shovel in Action

More of the Best Ergonomic Snow Shovels

25Suncast 18-inch Snow Shovel and Pusher  with Ergonomic Shaped Handle, Ideal for Driveways, Walkways, and SidewalksBuy on AmazonSteel Shaft Impact Resistant Snow Shovel, 18-Inch Shovel, 48-Inch Shaft, Push/Scoop Combination Blade, Polycarbonate ShovelBuy on Amazon

Orientools Snow Shovel with Wheels

Snow Joe 24 Volt Cordless Snow Shovel Kit for Driveway Winter Snow RemovalBuy on Amazon

This powerful 24-volt cordless snow shovel is fast and offers effortless snow removal on sidewalks, patios and steps. It has a tough two blade auger and clears an 11″ wide, 7″ deep path and throws snow up to 20 feet.

The battery is super efficient and will clear up to 370 square feet per charge with no gas or oil needed. The high performance 400-watt motor moves up to 75 pounds of snow per minute. 

This snow shovel is great for small to medium areas. 

Manplow Pro Snow Pusher

Manplow PRO32 Snow Pusher, 32″ SwathBuy on Amazon

This Manplow Pro snow pusher offers an efficient snow removal that will not damage surfaces the way that an ordinary snow shovel might.

It has a special patented EZ Glide edge that allows you to skim deep snow in manageable horizontal layers. The EZ Glide edge will not scratch or gouge wood or composite decking like a steel edge will. Yet, it is durable enough to clear snow from aggregate, broken concrete or gravel surfaces. The edge is also replaceable so your snow pusher will stay like new. It should last several years because you can expect about 300 – 350 shoveling hours before it needs to be replaced.

This model has an extra wide 32″ width. But if you are looking for something even wider there is also a 42″ model available.

Best Electric Snow Shovels

Think of an electric snow shovel as a cross between a manual snow shovel and a snow blower. They are not self propelled, so you will still have to do some pushing, but it will make the job easier. An electric snow shovel is designed for fresh light snow. They are not going to work well if the snow is deep or if the snow is wet and heavy. Hopefully, you have someone lined up to help when you get large amounts of snow. What you might want to consider is using one of the snow pushers we talked about to move the snow in your driveway and then use an electric snow shovel to blow the collected snow farther away from the edge. Here are some of the best electric snow shovels that I found.

Earthwise Electric Snow Shovel

Earthwise SN70016 Electric Corded 12Amp Snow Shovel, 16″ SwathBuy on Amazon

The Earthwise SN70016 electric corded 12 amp snow shovel has a 16″ width so you can move more snow in each swath. It also has 6″ wheels making it easy to use and transport. The 12 amp corded motor gives it more power giving it a 30″ throwing distance.

This Earthwise electric snow shovel has a special feature that is very helpful for people with arthritis or bad backs. There is a support handle that makes it easy to maneuver. It adjusts based on your handle height preference. You won’t even need any tools because the adjustment screw on the side can be easily adjusted by hand.

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