Denton County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014

. The best way to prevent injuries is to be realistic about your skills and ski at a level you are comfortable at. Choose ski runs that match your level of expertise. Just because your friends are going down a blue or black run does not mean you should as well. Be careful of other skiers as they can cause you to alter your path and potentially lead to damaging falls. Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Winter is upon us which means ski and snowboarding season for many! If done right, these can be a great form of exercise as well as a fun and safe way to enjoy the great outdoors and beautiful snow. If done improperly, they can be dangerous and cause severe injury. We want you to stay safe and avoid common injuries. Michael Schwartz, M.D., an OrthoTexas orthopedic surgeon in Plano who specializes in knee, hip and shoulder injuries, advises that the one of the best ways to stay safe on your trip happens before you even leave home. He says, “Two to three weeks before your trip, start a routine that works your quads, hamstrings, glutes, inner and outer thighs, calves, abs, back and your arms. All of these muscles are important to strengthen prior to your trip to avoid injury. Strength training will tone your muscles and help improve bone density.” Consider taking a ski lesson if you are a beginner. This can be crucial to learn proper technique. A lesson will teach the best way to fall to avoid injury. Even the most expert skier can learn a thing or two from a lesson. Unless you are a highly experienced skier, chances are you will fall a lot. Mitchell Fagelman, M.D., an OrthoTexas shoulder and elbow specialist in Carrollton explains that when you fall, your shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand can be especially susceptible to signiﬁcant injuries. He states, “In the shoulder, it is very common to dislocate the glenohumeral joint. The ball comes completely out of the socket and often must be put back in socket in the emergency room. Depending on the situation, this can be treated with immobilization for three weeks. In some circumstances, surgery may be required. Other common injuries in the shoulder include fractures (breaks) of the top of the humerus or the clavicle. These types of injuries need to be followed by an orthopedist.” Dr. Fagelman advises that elbow injuries common to skiing include a dislocation or fractures of the elbow. Initially, splinting can be quite effective. These should also be followed by an orthopedist. He says the most common injury to the wrist is a fracture (or break). These injuries are so common because we typically fall onto an outstretched arm and hand. These are easily treated, initially, in a splint and also must be followed by an orthopedist. Always stay on marked trails and watch for environmental factors such as falling rock or patches of ice. Unless you are highly experienced, avoid skiing through trees. Trees present an unnecessary obstacle and can serve as a hard surface to collide with at high speeds. Always wear a helmet. Head injuries are all too common and are usually the most serious of all ski-related injuries. At rapid speeds, a head injury can even be fatal. Make sure to have proper equipment. Select your skis, snowboard and boots with care to ensure ﬁt. Check your bindings ﬁt to avoid injury to the foot and or ankle. Adam Crawford, M.D., an OrthoTexas foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon in Irving sees his fair share of injuries resulting from skiing and snowboarding. He says that injuries to the ankle are much more common in snowboarders than skiers because ski boots offer a level of protection that snow boarding boots do not. Snowboarders can easily twist their ankle while turning resulti

Denton County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 39