| With winter upon us, many people participate in | | | | fractured due to falls on the outstretched hands. |
| activities such as snow skiing, snowboarding, and ice | | | | Other upper extremity injuries include clavicle (collar |
| skating. The very condition that makes these | | | | bone) fractures, and shoulder or elbow dislocations. |
| activities possible and enjoyable, reduced friction, also | | | | Ice skating shares some of the injury types of both |
| makes falls and injuries very common. Winter sports | | | | skiing and snowboarding. Falls onto outstretched |
| injuries get a lot of attention at hospital emergency | | | | upper extremities can result in wrist fractures, or |
| rooms and doctor's offices, and include sprains, | | | | shoulder or elbow dislocations. The fractures may |
| strains, dislocations and fractures (broken bones). In | | | | need casting or surgical treatment, depending on |
| 2004, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | | | | severity, and the dislocations require reduction, |
| reported 49,600 injuries from ice skating, 143,990 | | | | manipulating the dislocated joint back into place. |
| injuries from snowboarding and 144,379 injuries from | | | | Usually this must be done in the emergency room. |
| snow skiing. | | | | Lower extremity injuries can involve the knee, as is |
| While participation in each of these winter sports can | | | | noted above for skiers, with trauma from a twisting |
| result in the injuries listed above, there are injuries | | | | force, or ankle injuries. Ankle sprains which are |
| particular to different winter sports pursuits. | | | | ligament injuries of the ankle can occur and are |
| Skiing injuries, because of the independent | | | | usually treated conservatively without surgery and |
| movement of each leg, often involve the knee. | | | | allowed to heal. Fractures of the ankle can be treated |
| Ligament injuries can range from mild stretching, or | | | | with casts, walking boots, or in more severe cases, |
| sprains, to complete tears where the ligament is no | | | | surgery. |
| longer functional. The milder injuries are usually | | | | There are ways to prevent some of these injuries. |
| treated conservatively with rest, bracing, and | | | | Many winter sports injuries happen at the end of the |
| anti-inflammatory medications. Complete tears of one | | | | day, while pushing to do that one last run, when |
| of the main stabilizers of the knee, the anterior | | | | muscles are tired. |
| cruciate ligament, can require surgical reconstruction | | | | - Pay attention to your level of fatigue and quit when |
| using arthroscopic minimally invasive techniques. | | | | you get tired. |
| Cartilage, the rubbery cushioning structures between | | | | - Check your equipment; making sure boots or |
| the bones, can be injured, with treatment ranging | | | | skates fit properly and bindings are adjusted |
| from conservative to arthroscopic surgery. Finally, | | | | correctly for your weight and skill level. |
| there is a characteristic skiing injury of the thumb, | | | | - There is evidence that wrist guards for |
| called, appropriately enough "skier's thumb", and is a | | | | snowboarders can reduce the chance of fracture in a |
| ligament injury of the thumb caused by a fall on the | | | | fall, and their use is recommended. There are |
| outstretched hand and thumb, with the ski pole held | | | | snowboarding gloves available with the wrist guards |
| between the thumb and other digits. | | | | built in. |
| Depending on how severe the ligament injury, | | | | - Helmets reduce the severity of head injuries in |
| treatment can be conservative, with casting or | | | | crashes and their use is also recommended. It does |
| bracing, or can require surgical repair. Other upper | | | | appear that as helmet use increases, the stigma |
| extremity injuries, such as dislocated shoulders and | | | | previously associated with helmet wear is |
| elbows, where the bones of the involved joint are | | | | disappearing- a good thing! |
| completely out of place, can result from a fall on an | | | | Finally, there are some general tips for preventing |
| outstretched arm. | | | | injury; |
| Snowboarding injuries differ from skiing injuries | | | | - Stay in shape, |
| because of the fixed position of both feet on the | | | | - Condition muscles before participating, |
| snowboard. This makes knee and lower extremity | | | | - Warm up before starting the activity, |
| injuries less likely because of the leg and ankle motion | | | | - Take lessons from qualified instructors, |
| needed to snowboard, and with the softer boots, | | | | - Wear layers of light, water- and wind-resistant |
| there is a characteristic break of one of the bones in | | | | clothing, |
| the ankle. This fracture can require non-surgical | | | | - Drink plenty of water-dehydration is a risk due to |
| treatment with casting, or surgical repair if the | | | | the low humidity, particularly at high altitude. Normal |
| broken bone is shifted out of place. Upper extremity | | | | signs that you may need to drink, such as sweating, |
| injuries are more common, with the wrists often | | | | may not be present. |