Lawrence resident Carrie Mayhew digs her car out on Monday as it was snowed in by city street crews outside her house in Old West Lawrence.

Snow-shoveling can cause aching backs and shoulders.

If you’re suffering from such pain, Kim King, physical therapist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s Kreider Rehabilitation Services, has some suggestions:

• Use cold packs.

• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine.

• Do gentle stretches. It’s important to keep moving as much as possible.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• If pain hasn’t subsided in 14 days, see a doctor.

“The sooner you can get treatment, the better and quicker your healing is going to be,” King said.

And to avoid injury:

• Push snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, do it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist.

• Scoop small amounts of snow into your shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side because this requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.

• Don’t tackle a 4-foot drift at once. Take breaks and prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.

“Listen to what your body is telling you,” King said. “If you start to feel the burning or an ache, that’s your body sending you the message that you need to stop and take a break.”

• If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack, stop immediately and seek emergency care.