The New Year may have come and gone, but winter is here to stay, and you don’t need a thermometer to know it’s freezing out there! Still, there are plenty of fun ways to liven up the icy months and get the much-needed exercise that is essential for any time of year. But staying active shouldn’t mean having to put up with pain, soreness, or more serious injuries like sprains, strains, fractures or dislocations. With the Winter Olympics less than a month away, we figured we’d look into winter sports and offer some of the precautions that will ensure a safe and fun-filled athletic season for you and the whole family!
Skiing, snowboarding and sledding are time-honored traditions in the colder parts of the country, not to mention great excuses to get out there and enjoy some physical activity. But be sure to use caution: after all, in 2010, there were more than 144,000 skiing-related injuries, and 148,000 snowboarding injuries! Sledding, too, can be more dangerous than it seems: according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are more than 91,000 sledding, snow tubing and tobogganing-related injuries treated yearly. So how to prevent these incidents? Well, it’s simple: most of these injuries happen when athletes overexert themselves or push their muscles beyond their limits, so be sure to condition your muscles appropriately and do plenty of warming up before going straight into more intense exercising. Stretch as much as possible before hitting the slopes.
Skiing, snowboarding and sledding are all fast-paced and exciting activities, and like other winter sports, they move fast. In fact, whether you’re involved in one of these activities or a sport like ice hockey, one thing is paramount: use the appropriate equipment! If skiing or snowboarding, check your bindings and boots for snug and properly adjusted fits. If ice skating or playing hockey, wear elbow and knee pads as well as whatever equipment the sport necessitates. And no matter what you do, be sure to wear a helmet! It’s not worth the risk of very serious injury.
In general, be sure to wear the proper clothing when engaging in winter sports--several layers of loose clothes, allowing you to make changes to accommodate the changes in temperature that can be common in these months. On that same note, be aware of changing weather conditions in your area--storms or temperature drops can arrive with little warning and turn a fun day into a miserable experience. And, as always, drink lots and lots of water at all times, and make sure that you have a plan in place in case of injuries. And take comfort in good company: never ski or participate in winter sports alone!
With these and other common-sense tips in mind, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be out there having a blast this season. Winter sports and family athletic activities make living in a frozen place a treat--well, almost!
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