Common Winter Sports Injuries
Hurtling down the slopes and jumping up from rock-hard ice doesn’t have to spell injury, but unsurprisingly, it can. Here Martin Kemp look at some of the common injuries that can affect those of all abilities and interests.
Knee injuries
According to sports-health.com 70% of ACL injuries are sustained not through contact, but actions that involve sudden movements, such as deceleration, pivoting and landing hard on one leg. A wobbly landing in the rink or a wayward ski is enough to cause such an injury, and re-tears of the ACL, which is on the outside of your knee, is 15% higher following the initial damage.
Shoulder dislocation and wrist fractures
A dislocated shoulder can be down to a number of factors, one of which is a single traumatic event.
Trying to break a fall with an outstretched arm can create a force strong enough to cause a dislocated shouter, also known as a rotator cuff injury, as well as a broken wrist.
Concussion
Speed is a presiding factor in ski and snow-boarding related head injuries, such as concussion. This mild type of traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects the normal function of the brain, causing fatigue, blurred vision, irritability and a difficulty focusing.
A ski-lift accident is one cause, while over-confidence, loss of control and badly located runs can lead to collisions with trees, rocks, or other objects such as a car on the way down. On the rink, an ice-hockey player may have a bad run-in with another player.
Sprains and fractures
Some sports have their own exclusive set of injuries due to the unique stressors they place on the participants. “Snowboarder’s ankle” describes a fracture to the outer ankle caused by a sprain sustained at a bad moment, such as during a high-force landing. Then there’s skier’s thumb, where the ski pole “levers” the base of the thumb during a fall, causing it to overextend and damage the ligament.
Are you covered?
If you’re planning a ski or snowboard break, or even if you just fancy a go on a sledge, make sure you’re covered for these activities on your travel insurance to avoid having to pay medical bills yourself.
Contact Martin Kemp for more information on your medical cover options to find the right policy for you.