Do you also get back pain when you shovel snow? Here are experts' tips to avoid soreness.

Snow is falling again across large parts of the country on Thursday, and the cold winter weather doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

The snow has forced many Danes, especially homeowners, to grab their snow shovels and clear sidewalks and driveways—but this can take a toll on the body.

The insurance company Gjensidige reports a significant increase in claims related to snow shoveling.

"Our physiotherapists in injury treatment are currently handling many cases where customers experience pain in their backs, lower backs, and shoulders from shoveling snow and clearing icy paths," says Mette Glad, a senior expert in health at Gjensidige, in a press release.

Many of us are simply not used to the strenuous physical work involved in shoveling snow, explains Behnam Liaghat, a lecturer at the Institute of Sports and Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark.

"Many people likely experience acute strain because they use their bodies in ways they may not be accustomed to. This can lead to discomfort in the back, shoulders, and legs," he says.

Behnam Liaghat, who also researches musculoskeletal physiotherapy, offers five tips on how to avoid back pain while shoveling snow:

- Warm up. Treat it like a sport. Do a few stretching exercises or classic warm-up routines to prepare your body for the work ahead, Liaghat advises.

- Take your time. Start with smaller movements and pause frequently, he recommends.

- Avoid carrying too much weight. Keep the shovel close to your body to prevent straining by lifting heavy loads at an awkward angle far from your center of gravity, says Liaghat.

- Bend your knees properly. Use your entire body when shoveling. Kneel down, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and shift your weight from one leg to the other as you shovel, advises the lecturer from the University of Southern Denmark.

- Don’t overfill the shovel. Adjust the amount of snow to what feels natural and comfortable both while shoveling and when you’re done, Liaghat says.

In most cases, the discomfort will disappear within a short time, says Liaghat.

He also offers advice on what to do if you’ve already injured yourself while shoveling snow.

"Don’t panic, get out of bed, and stay active. Move as much as you can and do the things you normally would," he advises.

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