GREENSBORO, N.C. — Every year, skiing and snowboarding send about 600,000 people to the hospital nationwide according to Johns Hopkins University. A Novant Health expert says the injuries are often similar and many can be prevented.
“A lot of knee injuries, knee ligament injuries, upper extremity injuries from falls, fractures, dislocations,” said Dr. Louis McIntyre, Clinical Physician Executive for Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in the Winston-Salem region. “For snowboarding, it’s a different set of injuries. You're not tied into those boards as much. So, upper extremity injuries, wrist fractures, things like that are much more common there.”
Dr. McIntyre emphasizes that proper preparation, the right equipment, and staying in control can help reduce your risk.
- Invest in quality equipment: The best gear you can afford will offer better support and protection.
- Match the slope to your skill level: Avoid venturing onto terrain that is too advanced.
- Pick less crowded times: “Try to avoid crowds if you can,” McIntyre advised. “Most of the skiing injuries that I've seen are collision injuries. You're skiing to your skill level, but then somebody who's not comes along and creates an injury situation.”
UC Davis health experts suggest getting your body ready for skiing and snowboarding with lower-body and core-strengthening exercises. Here are a few to try before hitting the slopes:
- Planks
- Superman stability ball exercises
- Stability ball bridges
- Squats
- Lateral band walks
These exercises not only strengthen your legs but also improve stability, making you less likely to lose balance on the slopes.
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