Common Winter Sports Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Just because the weather has turned cold doesn’t mean everyone is staying indoors all the time! There are tons of fun activities and sports to enjoy during the colder months. With them, however, comes a variety of common winter sports injuries.
Today we’re examining common winter sports injuries and how to prevent them. Since it’s impossible to reduce the risk of every activity to zero, we’ll also take a look at winter sports recovery methods for unfortunate accidents that may occur!
Common Winter Sports Injuries
Every year, millions of people enjoy winter sports from skiing and ice skating to hockey and sledding. Alongside the fun times, however, come huge numbers of common winter sports injuries that could’ve been prevented with proper safety precautions. In fact, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported almost 200,000 winter sports injuries in 2018.
That’s a huge number of winter sports injuries! Some of the most common winter sports injuries include:
- Spinal injuries
- Concussions
- Dislocated shoulders
- Knee injuries
- Ankles sprains and fractures
- Skier’s thumb (torn ligaments in the thumb from gripping ski poles)
As you might have guessed, knowing proper winter sport injury prevention methods may have prevented many of these occurrences. This brings us to our list of prevention and sports recovery methods you might consider while participating in winter sports this year:
Winter Sports Injury Prevention and Recovery
Winter sports injuries may occur, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to avoid them as best you can. An estimated half of winter sports injuries could’ve been prevented with proper planning, preparation, and attention. If you’re participating this season, then winter sports injury prevention needs to be on your mind!
A few simple winter sports injury prevention and recovery tips are:
- Taking regular breaks to give your body a rest
- Be mindful of inclement weather
- Warm up before participating in winter sports and activities
- Use a zero gravity chair for winter sports injury prevention and recovery
- Check your gear (and use the right equipment)
Taking Breaks to Prevent Winter Sports Injuries
One of the most common causes of winter sports injuries is forgetting to take breaks. Doubling as winter sports recovery methods, breaks let your body rest and recharge momentarily, keeping them from overexertion and possible injury. When you’re taking breaks, be sure to hydrate. Even if you don’t feel as thirsty in the cold air, staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects of winter sports injury prevention to protect muscles and tissue from damage.
Be Mindful of Inclement Weather Conditions
Not all winter sports injuries are caused by overdoing it physically. Some are caused by weather. Winter weather can be very unpredictable, causing it to change from ideal to dangerous from day to day or even hour to hour. Changing weather patterns may also lead to dangerous conditions that could cause winter sports injuries very easily. This year, make sure keeping an eye on the weather is part of your winter sports injury prevention plan to enjoy your activities safely.
Practice Winter Sports Warm Up Techniques
As with most sports, winter sports demand a lot from your body. Countless winter sports injuries could be prevented by practicing sports warm up techniques. Muscles get tighter when the temperature drops. Blood vessels contract, restricting blood flow more than in warmer weather. As a result, you’re more likely to get exhausted or experience winter sports injuries if you don’t warm up properly before participating.
Easy warmups to include for winter sport injury prevention can include:
- Stretching your arms, legs and back
- Twisting your upper body
- Arm circles
- Squats
It’s recommended that you spend a bit more time warming up than you typically would during warmer months since muscles take more time to loosen up in colder weather. Also, ensure you focus on the muscle groups that will be used the most during your activity. For example, you might work out your arms more if you’re planning to ski or play hockey while doing more leg stretches if you’re skating or snowboarding.
Zero Gravity Chairs for Winter Sports Injury Prevention and Recovery
Next up on our list comes a multipurpose tool you can use for winter sports injury prevention as well as paired with sports recovery methods if you’re hurt: zero gravity chairs. The potential health benefits of zero gravity chairs range from increasing poor blood circulation (enhancing how the body heals itself) to improving sleep quality.
The way zero gravity chairs help you stem from the reclining design. Unlike traditional recliners, which focus pressure on the lower spine, the zero gravity position elevates the legs above the heart level and distributes weight along the body. This reduces pressure on the lower back and pelvic area, making zero gravity chairs for back pain relief and sciatica treatment at home very popular.
In addition to providing potential chronic pain relief, these chairs make ideal pairings for winter sports injuries as they may improve blood flow throughout the body, as well. This is one of the major benefits of zero gravity chairs for athletes, enhancing healing qualities and sports recovery methods. When blood flows more efficiently through the body, it helps rehydrate spinal discs, heal muscles and other soft tissue, as well as lower blood pressure naturally. It may also help improve lung function, a very important aspect in winter sports injury prevention and athletic performance.
Additional bonus features of zero gravity luxury recliners may include massage and heat therapy functions. These features are ideal for healing winter sports injuries and as part of the all-important post workout recovery routine.
Using the Right Winter Sports Equipment
Many common winter sports injuries could’ve been prevented by simply using the proper equipment or making sure it was in proper condition. The most effective piece of equipment for preventing common winter sports injuries is a helmet. Numerous studies have proven their effectiveness in preventing head injuries, which are more likely to be fatal than other types of injuries. Padding for other body parts, such as arms and legs, is important for winter sport injury prevention, as well.
Beyond wearing the proper winter sports equipment is also making sure it’s in good shape. Maintain your equipment to keep it in proper working order and maximize its effectiveness for helping prevent winter sports injuries.
As you’ve learned, many winter sports injuries could be prevented by simply taking a few extra precautions and being mindful of your surroundings. From wearing the right equipment and warming up properly to choosing a zero gravity chair for winter sports injury prevention and recovery, you’ll be thankful you took the time to be prepared. Now go and have fun!
To learn more about the potential health benefits of zero gravity chairs and how they might benefit you during the colder months, check out these additional resources:
