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<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE An Ergonomic Method for Using a Shovel

The manual use of the shovel commonly practiced relies entirely on arm muscles and trunk muscles to accomplish the task {1, 2, 3, 4}, which is quite taxing on human muscles and joints. One source {5} describes a shoveling method that takes advantage of the thigh as a fulcrum to help in the shoveling process, but to a limited extent. However, there is another method practiced in some parts of the world that also uses the thigh as a fulcrum to create a levering system in a significantly more ergonomic manner than the aforementioned method. What follows is a stepwise illustration and explanation of this method, which can be applied to any kind of shovel, spade, or the like. Step 1: Using the Thigh to Create a Levering system (Figure 1) The handle of the shovel is grasped with both hands and the handle is placed on the thigh (the left thigh for right-handed people) just above the knee, such that the left hand grasping the handle is immediately below the thigh and toughing the thigh (Figure 1). This way the left hand will also serve as a point of stoppage such that the user’s weight can be placed on the handle to thrust the shovel into soil, sand, snow, etc., to fill the blade (Step 2, below).

Step 2: Thrusting the Shovel into the Material to Be Lifted (Figure 1) With both hands tightly holding the shovel handle and the left hand serving as a stoppage point and the knee serving as a fulcrum, a portion of the weight of the body is placed on the shovel handle and the shovel is pushed into the material to be lifted (Figure 1). The applied weight of the body will result in the shovel being driven ergonomically into the material, reducing the strain on the muscles and joints for this action. This is one major advantage of this method.

Figure 1. Using the Thigh to Create a Levering system and Using the Levering system to Thrust the Shovel into the Material to Be Lifted

Step 3: Lifting the Filled Shovel (Figure 2) After the shovel has been filled, the handle of the shovel is rested on the left thigh just above the knee and supported by the left hand, while the right hand is used to press on the distal end of the handle to help lift the blade end of the shovel, with the thigh serving as the fulcrum, analogous to a seesaw. Thus, the levering system created by the handle and the thigh enables the user to lift the filled shovel with significantly less effort. This is the second major advantage of this method.

Step 4: Tossing the Material to Where it Needs to Go (Figure 2) The levering system created by the handle and the thigh is then used to throw the material to where it needs to go. Depending on application and need, this method can be used to lift the filled shovel slightly above ground, as in tilling, as high as the knee, as in filling a wheelbarrow, or to launch the shovel higher than the knee, as in throwing the material in a truck. This is the third and final major advantage of this method.

Figure 2. Lifting the Filled Shovel and Tossing the Material to Where it Needs to Go

References 1) https://www.thisoldhouse.com/gardening/21017612/digging-do-s-and-dont-s#:~:text=DO%20place%20the%20shovel%20head,needed%20to%20sink%20the%20blade. 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbMKtD1lCLo&t=526s 3) https://fitzgeraldpt.com/are-you-shoveling-correctly-tips-and-techniques/ 4) https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2020/02/how-shovel-snow-tips-prevent-injury 5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9FuFIY-OKA

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An Ergonomic Method for Using a Shovel
The manual use of the shovel commonly practiced relies entirely on arm muscles and trunk muscles to accomplish the task  , which is quite taxing on human muscles and joints. One source describes a shoveling method that takes advantage of the thigh as a fulcrum to help in the shoveling process, but to a limited extent. However, there is another method practiced in some parts of the world that also uses the thigh as a fulcrum to create a levering system in a significantly more ergonomic manner than the aforementioned method. What follows is a stepwise illustration and explanation of this method, which can be applied to any kind of shovel, spade, or the like.

Step 1: Using the Thigh to Create a Levering system (Figure 1)
The handle of the shovel is grasped with both hands and the handle is placed on the thigh (the left thigh for right-handed people) just above the knee, such that the left hand grasping the handle is immediately below the thigh and toughing the thigh (Figure 1). This way the left hand will also serve as a point of stoppage such that the user’s weight can be placed on the handle to thrust the shovel into soil, sand, snow, etc., to fill the blade (Step 2, below).

Step 2: Thrusting the Shovel into the Material to Be Lifted (Figure 1)
With both hands tightly holding the shovel handle and the left hand serving as a stoppage point and the knee serving as a fulcrum, a portion of the weight of the body is placed on the shovel handle and the shovel is pushed into the material to be lifted (Figure 1). The applied weight of the body will result in the shovel being driven ergonomically into the material, reducing the strain on the muscles and joints for this action. This is one major advantage of this method.

Figure 1. Using the Thigh to Create a Levering system and Using the Levering system to Thrust the Shovel into the Material to Be Lifted

Step 3: Lifting the Filled Shovel (Figure 2)
After the shovel has been filled, the handle of the shovel is rested on the left thigh just above the knee and supported by the left hand, while the right hand is used to press on the distal end of the handle to help lift the blade end of the shovel, with the thigh serving as the fulcrum, analogous to a seesaw. Thus, the levering system created by the handle and the thigh enables the user to lift the filled shovel with significantly less effort. This is the second major advantage of this method.

Step 4: Tossing the Material to Where it Needs to Go (Figure 2)
The levering system created by the handle and the thigh is then used to throw the material to where it needs to go. Depending on application and need, this method can be used to lift the filled shovel slightly above ground, as in tilling, as high as the knee, as in filling a wheelbarrow, or to launch the shovel higher than the knee, as in throwing the material in a truck. This is the third and final major advantage of this method.

Figure 2. Lifting the Filled Shovel and Tossing the Material to Where it Needs to Go