To some, winter means cold mornings and nights, shorter days and rugging up inside with a hot chocolate and some Netflix.
But to others on the Northern Beaches, it means Ski and Snowboarding season has begun. Whether you’re off to Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, or somewhere else; it’s important to ease into it.
Statistically, sports injuries peak in the months of May, June and July. This is not surprising because cold muscles, tendons and ligaments increase the risk of sustaining injury and team sports are in full swing.
Snowboarding and skiing might seem like a couple of fun activities to just ‘do’ on vacation, but they are also intense whole-body activities. This means they can be pretty hardcore to go gung ho straight into after a year of sitting at an office desk or working from home.
Don’t overexert yourself
One of the most common causes of injury during winter sports is overexertion.
While you’re out having a blast and full of endorphins, it can be hard to recognise how tired you are and miss the fact that your knees are burning or that your arm fell off on the last run.
Take regular breaks, drink lots of water, eat a good healthy lunch and keep an eye on your energy levels, if you start to feel fatigued – call it a day.
What are some common winter sports injuries to look out for?
The knee is the most commonly injured joint by skiers due to the increased twisting and turning demands. In particular, ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL injuries can occur due to a sudden twisting movement at the knee with your foot planted, along with a lovely popping sound which may or may not be followed by extreme pain and instability in the knee.
Head, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries also commonly occur as a result of falls, which tend to be more common among snowboarders. In particular, wrist sprains, clavicle fractures, shoulder dislocations, whiplash, and concussions are common.
If you have had winter sports injuries in the past, or have some current niggles then it would be a good idea to consult your physiotherapist before you go and hit the slopes.
A musculoskeletal physio will be able to give you the right piece of advice to avoid recurring injuries in the future and tips on how to properly warm up and warm down.
If you’re concerned about injury during the winter sports season and would like to find out more about injury prevention Call Fixio today on 8964 4086 or Email info@fixio.com.au to organise an appointment with one of our Physios.
