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