The first snowfall of the winter has been forecast for parts of the UK this week (October 20th), so now’s the time to make sure you have all your winter woollies close to hand and that the central heating system is fit for purpose!
But it’s also time for many of you, no doubt, to start getting excited about all the winter sports you can enjoy over the next few months.
Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice skating and more are all wonderful pastimes and a huge amount of fun, of course – but you do need to make sure that you prioritise injury prevention while enjoying your favourite sports as they all do come with inherent dangers to be very mindful of.
Sprains and strains are very common, as are dislocations and fractures when it comes to winter sports but the good news is that the majority of these can be prevented if you prepare appropriately by keeping yourself fit and strong, and stopping the activity when you feel tired or if you start experiencing aches and pains.
To help ensure that you can continue enjoying your favourite winter sports while remaining injury-free, here are some top tips from the Clear Physio team.
1. Warm up properly
Never skip the warm up when doing any sport, as you leave yourself more open to injury if your muscles, tendons and ligaments are cold.
2. Wear the relevant gear
If the sport you’re doing requires equipment like gloves, helmets, goggles and so on, make sure you use them as they’re there for a reason and will help keep you safe. Always carry out equipment checks before using it, as well, to make sure it’s fit for purpose.
3. Take lessons if necessary
If you’re new to a sport, it’s generally advisable to have proper professional instruction before striking out on your own, so you know you’re using correct form and that you know how to fall properly, thus reducing your risks of injury. It can also be beneficial to have refresher lessons if you’ve had a big break from the sport and are just coming back to it.
