[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/preventing-winter-sports-injuries\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/preventing-winter-sports-injuries\/","headline":"Recognizing and Preventing Winter Sports Injuries","name":"Recognizing and Preventing Winter Sports Injuries","description":"Your meta description should be 160 characters or less, include the target keyword(s), and accurately describe your story in a way that entices readers to click. Note: Do not include quotation marks, as these trigger truncation. \r\n\r\nExample: \"Thanks to social media, it's easier than ever to advertise your content. But is it worth it? Discover why three online advertising experts say yes.\"","datePublished":"2021-01-13","dateModified":"2022-05-06","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/iStock-624544248-scaled.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/iStock-624544248-scaled.jpg","height":1367,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/preventing-winter-sports-injuries\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":356,"articleBody":"When it comes to winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and ice hockey \u2013 or even activities like snow tubing, sled riding, or snowmobiling \u2013 injuries are always a factor. They’re often due to inexperience, improper equipment, snow conditions, and fatigue. And orthopaedic injuries aren’t the only consideration, as cold and harsh weather conditions can also be a concern.Mountain SportsIn skiing and snowboarding, injuries to the shoulders, forearms, and wrists are common and often caused by catching one’s fall. The knees are also a common injury given their constantly flexed position. Traumatic injuries are sometimes associated with advanced levels of these sports as well. To lower your chance of injury, be sure to:Wear adequate protective equipment.Maintain your skill level.Warm up and condition appropriately.Take breaks when you feel tired.Rink SportsWhether you’re skating for hockey, figure skating, speed skating, inline skating, or just skating for fun \u2013 well-fitted skates, conditioning, and proper protective equipment can help prevent common:Recreational acute injuries from falls.Competitive overuse injuries from repetition.Fractures, lower back pain, and hand lacerations are common in ice skaters, coupled with sometimes more severe injury from collisions in ice hockey.Recreational ActivitiesThe fun recreational activities of winter can also yield some bumps and bruises. While snow tubing and sled riding cause the occasional abrasion or sprain, snowmobiling can be more dangerous because of the heavy equipment involved. You’ll also want to consider injuries from the cold like frostbite and hypothermia caused by:Freezing temperatures.Wind.Humidity.Inadequate or wet clothing.Dehydration.Safety TipsHave fun and stay competitive during winter sports! But be sure to look out for yourself and others by:Choosing clothing based on actual temperature and wind chill.Warming up sufficiently and staying hydrated.Applying petroleum jelly to face and lips to prevent chaffing.Planning your route carefully and letting someone know where you’ll be.Wearing bright colors and reflective clothing.Keeping your workouts steady and continuous.To learn more about sports safety or schedule an appointment for a winter sports injury, please visit our website or call 1-855-937-7678."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Recognizing and Preventing Winter Sports Injuries","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/01\/preventing-winter-sports-injuries\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]