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Source: Lordelyn del Rosario
415-476-2557
21 December 1998
UCSF SPORTS MEDICINE EXPERT GIVES TIPS FOR A SAFE WINTER SEASON ON THE SLOPES
Winter is here and the snow has begun to fall in the mountains. For ski and snowboard lovers, it’s time to hit the slopes. Sports medicine experts at UC San Francisco warn these winter sports can lead to serious injuries. However, by taking some precautions, injuries can be prevented.
"Injuries associated with skiing and snowboarding can be very serious," said Stephen Gunther, MD, UCSF assistant clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic surgeon at UCSF Sports Medicine, part of UCSF Stanford Health Care. "They include head injuries, spine and leg injuries as well as pelvic fractures." Most common injuries associated with snowboarding occur in the upper portion of the body -- wrist fractures, shoulder dislocations, and strains and sprains while injuries associated with skiing occur in the lower portion of the body -- primarily leg injuries. Many injuries, added Gunther are associated with jumping off cliffs, jumping in the air and landing on rocks, snowboarding or skiing through the woods, and collisions with other people. To prevent injuries and to have a safe winter on the slopes, Gunther recommends the following:
· Learn to fall; don’t fall on wrists, learn to tuck and roll
· Do not jump off cliffs, do not jump where there are rocks below. · · Look into traffic; look where you are going. · Avoid stopping in front of hazards. · Avoid going sideways/across a hill where there are other people coming down.
· Do not stop in the middle of ski hills. · Use a helmet. It can prevent head injuries. · Pre-season conditioning such as cycling, running, and strengthening leg muscles can prevent sprains and strains. The more in shape you are, the less prone you are to injury.
· For beginners, taking lessons is important to learn proper techniques and proper use of equipment.
· Ski or snowboard at appropriate level. Beginners should not go down advanced runs. Know your limits.
· Make sure you use properly adjusted equipment.
· Check bindings every year with a professional who can recalibrate them.
· Stay hydrated and avoid drinking alcohol. · Be aware of the weather conditions to prevent frostbite. · Don’t ski alone.
The UCSF Sports Medicine Center is a unique state-of-the-art facility designed to care for amateur as well as professional athletes with sports-related injuries. Directed by W. Dilworth Cannon, Jr, MD, UCSF professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery, the center includes a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, physical therapists, and fitness experts who work collaboratively to develop a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient's needs. The primary concerns of the staff are rehabilitation and injury prevention. The goal of the staff is to help each patient achieve the highest level of functioning possible in order to return to sport, work, or routine daily activities.
Services offered include the following: · Physician Services: The staff includes orthopaedic surgeons with expertise in knee, shoulder, elbow, hip, and foot/ankle sports-related injuries, as well as a variety of overuse injuries such as tennis elbow that results from excessive tennis playing or knee pain from excessive running.
· Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: The UCSF Sports Medicine Center offers a full range of on-site rehabilitative services with certified physical therapists. By combining state-of-the art equipment with the latest rehabilitative techniques, the center serves patients with diverse needs - from the weekend warrior to the professional athlete.
· Fitness and Training: As a bridge between formal physical therapy and home exercise, the UCSF Millberry Fitness Center offers UCSF Sports Medicine Center patients a unique membership program for continuing rehabilitation. As part of this membership, patients have ready access to physical therapists associated with the UCSF Sports Medicine center.
For more information about the UCSF Sports Medicine Center, call (415)476-8936.
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