The weather is starting to get cooler which means the winter season is coming up right around the corner. This time of year is the ideal for hitting the slopes and enjoying the luxuries that snowboarding and skiing resorts offer. As popular as snowboarding is, it is also one that comes with many risks for injuries. Research shows that three out of every one thousand snowboarders get injured a day while on the slopes. It is essential to be aware of the potential dangers that come with the sport. Take a look at some of the most common snowboarding injuries and how to avoid them.
Knee Ligament Injuries
Injuries involving your MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) or your ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) create about one-third of all snowboarding injuries. An MCL tear or sprain can typically come from a twist in the knee. Forty percent of all ACL injuries can be attributed to extreme sports. A lot of times depending on the severity of the injury, one can expect to go through surgery and would be looking upwards to nine months of recovery. To avoid any knee problems while snowboarding, first and foremost, it is important to have a supportive knee brace. These braces will offer stability allowing you to handle the twists, turns, and jumps on the slopes.
Snowboarder’s Ankle
Another common injury to be on the lookout for is with the ankle. The term “snowboarder’s ankle” refers to a lateral fracture of the talus. Some people like to wear soft boots which may be easier to walk in, but they also tend to leave you more susceptible to this kind of injury. Injuries to the ankle can also come from a bad landing after a jump when excessive pressure and inversion is applied to the cluster of small bones in the foot and ankle joint. Sports braces that go above the ankle can be very useful to prevent these kinds of issues. Doing ankle-strengthening exercises before you hit the slopes can also help getting the body stronger for the sort of movements you will be doing on the mountain.
Spinal Injuries
This is an issue that has begun to grow over the past few years, primarily due to the rising number of people who are trying to do jumps. Jumping in snowboarding is the main reason that people suffer from spinal injuries. For this reason, it is important that you stick to performing jumps that are within your skill level if you want to prevent getting one of these spinal injuries.
Wrist Fractures
This is another common injury amongst snowboarders, especially with beginners. The reason for this is because when you fall, your first instinct is to reach out to break your fall. However, this action can cause Scaphoid fractures and Colles fractures in the wrist. According to research, there are approximately 100,000 wrist fractures amongst snowboarders every year. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take up to eight weeks for a wrist injury to heal. The best way to prevent wrist injuries is by having proper gear such as wrist guards which can reduce wrist injuries during falls.