Winter is a great time to get out and be active. Whether your favorite winter sport is skiing, snowboarding, or even sledding, it’s important to understand the common injuries caused by these winter sports and how to prevent these.
Common Winter Sports Injuries
- Concussion. Concussions are common injuries from winter sports because of the risk of falls which can cause injury to the head. If you’re experiencing blurred vision, dizziness, confusion, swelling, or vomiting after a hit to the head, you could be experiencing a concussion.
- Joint dislocation. A shoulder dislocation is a common injury because the joint is more mobile, causing it to be less stable than other joints in the body.
- Sprains and fractures. When falling, the initial instinct is to reach out your arms to catch yourself. This frequently causes wrist sprains/strains and/or fractures of your arm.
Dr. Nelson is here to help you get back to the activities that keep you active and healthy. If you’re experiencing any of these common winter sports injuries, don’t hesitate to schedule your appointment with Dr. Nelson and his team.
Tips for Prevention
- Take regular breaks. While taking breaks, make sure to hydrate yourself. If you’re dehydrated and exhausted, you place yourself at a higher risk of injury.
- Keep an eye on the weather. Winter weather, especially in Utah, can be unpredictable. Inclement weather increases your likelihood of an injury. Check the forecast for the day and know when to call it a day and head home.
- Make sure to warm up. Winter sports are just as hard on your body as any other sport. This is why it’s so important to warm up to decrease your risk of injuries.
- Use protective equipment. Make sure this protective equipment fits you correctly. Your helmet may not look cool to you, but you’ll be glad you’re wearing it in case of an accident.
Get to Know Dr. Nelson
Dr. Nelson is a Cache Valley native who has always been involved with sports. His love for sports is what inspired his practice and specialty in sports medicine. He takes great pride in surgically repairing injured athletes and assisting them with getting back to competition. He followed his graduation from the University of Utah Medical School with orthopaedic training at the University of Southern California. Dr. Nelson then completed his fellowship training under E. Marlowe Goble, M.D. in sports medicine and knee disorders. Dr. Nelson is an innovator who works as a consultant developing new arthroscopic tools to aid in surgery. He is one of the first surgeons in Utah to perform arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. AOS gives Dr. Nelson the perfect venue to perform his innovative treatments.
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