Winter sports injuries have become common in a big number of places where winter sports are plentiful. For every one thousand individuals that participate in winter sports there are two to three injuries per day that occur. The risk of injuries is high for persons under the age of eighteen. But this may be because there is a very high population of persons under 18 who participate in winter sports.
In this blog, we will talk about some of the most common winter sports injuries seen by physiotherapists. They include the following:
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries account for approximately one-third of all winter sports injuries. There has been a drastic increase in the number of knee ligament injuries. If you have any knee weakness, wearing knee support to protect the knees from potential injuries is not a bad idea.
Snowboarder’s ankle
Snowboarder’s ankle is a fracture of the outer side of the talus bone. This is caused by a high-energy ankle sprain. Snowboarders’ ankle injuries are tricky to identify because they don’t show clearly on the x-ray films. If the pain is persistent in your ankle a CT scan may be needed. Regular use of a wobble board may help to enhance your balance and cut down on injuries.
Skier’s Thumb
Skiers’ thumb injuries account for approximately ten per cent of all skiing injuries. Sometimes a thumb stabilizer is recommended when for skiers. This will help you to protect your ulnar collateral ligament, without limiting function and hand movement. Compression and ice packs are the best treatments for “skier’s thumb” injuries.
Many of the injuries noted above are frequently seen in Abbotsford and throughout the Lower Mainland because of the wealth of winter sports available in southern British Columbia. While injuries are possible at any time of year, we still recommend exercise all year round. There is significant whole-body benefit to regular exercise.
Newleaf Wellness offers a variety of therapies including physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathic, and massage therapy in a warm and compassionate environment in our Abbotsford location.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to make an appointment, please contact us.