University of California San Francisco

how to prevent skiing injuries

UCSF SPORTS MEDICINE EXPERT GIVES TIPS FOR A SAFE WINTER SEASON ON THE ski SLOPES

Winter is here and the snow has begun to fall in the mountains. For snowboard and ski lovers, it’s time to hit the slopes. Sports medicine experts at the University of California San Francisco warn these winter sports can lead to serious injuries. However, by taking some precautions, injuries can be prevented.

"Injuries associated with snowboarding and skiing can be very serious," said Stephen Gunther, MD, UCSF assistant clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic surgeon at UCSF Sports Medicine, part of UCSF Stanford Health Care. "They include spine and leg injuries, as well as pelvic fractures." Most common injuries associated with snowboarding occur in the upper portion of the body -- wrist fractures, shoulder dislocations, and strains and sprains while injuries associated with skiing occur in the lower portion of the body -- mainly leg injuries. Many injuries, added Gunther are associated with jumping off cliffs, jumping in the air and landing on rocks, snowboarding or skiing through the woods, and collisions with other people. To prevent injuries and to have a safe winter on the slopes, Gunther recommends the following:

Learn to fall; don’t fall on wrists, learn to tuck and roll.

Do not stop in the middle of ski hills. · Use a helmet. It can prevent head injuries. · Pre-season conditioning such as cycling, running, and strengthening leg muscles can prevent sprains and strains. The more in shape you are, the less prone you are to injury

Do not jump off cliffs, do not jump where there are rocks below.  Look into traffic; look where you are going. · Avoid stopping in front of hazards.  Avoid going sideways or across a hill where there are other people coming down. .