Now that the winter months are finally upon us, we can expect to see some periods of ice and snow at times to go along with the drop in temperatures. With the cold weather and precipitation, there comes an increase in certain types of injuries.
There are some simple steps that people can take to assist with prevention of these winter time injuries.
Winter Injury Prevention Tips
Outdoor walking areas that have become covered with ice and snow can become a fall hazard, particularly to people who have difficulty with mobility and are prone to falls.
- Making sure that all walkways and steps are properly cleared and salted can help prevent falls that could lead to serious injuries.
- Whenever you are out walking during times of ice and snow, you should keep a watchful eye out whether you’re at your own home, grocery store or some other public location, be aware of your surroundings and proceed with extra caution in any areas that may be suspicious for being slick.
When shoveling snow, it’s important to protect the back as well as the shoulders. People are often times unaware how heavy a large shovel full of snow can be and just how strenuous shoveling a large area can be as well.
- Try to shovel smaller loads, and do not attempt to clear large amounts of snow quickly with just a few full shovels.
- Take frequent breaks when shoveling a large area. If you are feeling pain or stress in the shoulders or back, make sure to take short breaks periods to allow the tissues to recover.
- Stretching can also be effective both before, during and after shoveling snow, in helping prevent an injury.
- The same principle can be applied to using a snow blower in terms of not overdoing the work load.
- Surprisingly, each winter, we see a certain number of hand injuries caused by people using their hand to unclog a snow blower. Always use a stick to unclog a snow blower. Never put your hand into the blade area, then causing potential serious damage to the hand.
Wood splitting is another common source of shoulder injuries that we see during the winter months.
- Make sure to use the proper technique when splitting by hand, and swing straight over head.
- Again, try to allow for periods of rest when splitting a large amount.
- Most injuries tend to occur when muscles fatigue. Fatigued muscles are much more prone to injury than fresh ones.
People who participate in sports and exercise activities outdoors in the winter months, need to adhere to a good warm up and stretching routine prior to starting.
- Try to set aside 10-15 minutes prior to engaging in activities to allow for adequate warm up exercises and a stretching routine.
- This small amount of time can prevent significant injuries that could require significant time and attention to recover from. Remember: cold joints, muscles and ligaments are more prone to injures than warm ones!
Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates
If you think you are in need of a Morgantown orthopedic surgeon because of a winter injury, Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates would love to help you.
MOA has been providing quality care to its patients since 1977. Give us a call at 304-599-0720 to make an appointment today. No referral necessary.