Winter Sports Injuries
Every year, thousands of people in the United States get injured while participating in winter sports due to the negligence of simple precautions. The majority of these injuries come from skiing and snowboarding, with ice skating being a close second. Sledding and tobogganing are also known sources for injury during the winter months.
Common Injuries
While participating in winter sports, you may be prone to sprains, fractures, or dislocations. Many of these injuries are due to neglecting the body when it is fatigued or tired. Lack of adequate pre-participatory stretching or warming up may also make one prone to injury or harm. This is in part due to the leisurely aspect of winter sports which may cause one to neglect precautionary measures such as stretching when they may not take as seriously when playing a sport such as a baseball or tennis.
Tips for Avoiding Injury
There are many preventative measures one can take to avoid injury when partaking in winter sports. Be sure to incorporate these tips to your next trip to the slopes or any other winter sport this season:
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Give adequate time to warm up your body: This may take longer during the winter given the dry climate and frigid temperatures.
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Don’t go out on the slopes by yourself: Make sure you bring along a friend when you hit the slopes.
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Work on staying in shape before the season comes along: This will make sure your body is ready to take on the stress associated with winter sports.
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Buy or rent the respective protective gear associated with the sport: Helmets and knee pads are critical in contact winter sports such as hockey while goggles are a necessary component of snowboarding.
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Don’t overdo it: Listen to your body when it is tired or telling you to stop. Don’t get greedy since that extra last run can mean a sprained ankle or wrist.
Winter sports can be a tricky “slope” to navigate, but given these preventative measures, you can be assured that you’ll lower the risk of sustaining any future injuries. People often overlook the idea of getting injured participating in winter sports given their recreational nature, but it’s important not to forget that taking common precautions are just as important in skiing or snowboarding as they are in more common sports.