Although winter break might be over, there are certainly people out there who plan to get more time in on the ski slope before the spring ushers in warmer weather. If you fall into this category, then you need to do whatever you can to prevent a potential orthopedic injury, something that is all too common on the mountain. A new report offers some tips that you ought to enact, as doing so will go a long way toward protecting your wellbeing.
The first thing you must realize is that having the right equipment on hand can help immensely. Even the best skiers and snowboarders in the world will fall sometimes. It comes with the territory. The difference is what’s going to happen when you fall.
If you’re equipped with a helmet, the threat of a concussion is reduced dramatically. While a helmet certainly can’t completely eliminate the risk, it can take the brunt of any impact, and in some cases, that could be the difference between life and death. Get in the habit of wearing the helmet so that it actually feels strange not to adorn one when you’re going downhill.
The same goes for wrist protection. Invest in a wrist guard. Your natural instinct when you fall will be to throw your arms out to take much of the impact. After all, most tumbles will involve the person falling forward. When this happens, the fall leaves your hands and arms more susceptible to a break. A wrist guard can help matters, perhaps even turning what could have been a severe fracture into a sprain that just requires some good rest to correct.
It’s not just equipment that you have to pay attention to, though. You want to make sure you’re adhering to the rules that are in place wherever you’re visiting. If you’re warned about potential avalanches when you step outside the resort’s boundaries, do not go into those areas, as you’re putting your life at risk.
In fact, if any area has been cordoned off from the rest of a ski slope, this shouldn’t be viewed as an invitation only to the most daring among us. The delineation of boundaries should be respected so that you’re not exposing your skeletal structure to the type of terrain that can make injuries far more likely.
That also means that you shouldn’t be going beyond your skill level. If you’re a beginner, do beginner courses rather than showing off on the tough routes. No one will look down on you just because you can’t do the roughest course. And persons at all skill levels should stay away from rough, un-patrolled terrain if they can’t be sure that they can avoid an injury at all costs.
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