Venturing out onto the mountain to snowboard is one of the best ways to unwind, have fun and challenge yourself. Injuring yourself is usually not part of the plan, but it happens. If you know what to look out for, you can take action to reduce the risk of these common snowboarding injuries.
Are snowboarding injuries different to skiing injuries?
Snowboarding injuries are typically very different to skiing injuries. Although both sports involve pointing yourself downhill on a snowy slope, they use very different muscles and skill sets. For example, skiers tend to tear up their ACL when their legs twist at the knee. Snowboarders legs are strapped together and face the same direction, so that’s less likely to happen.
Where do snowboarding injuries occur most commonly?
Because your feet are strapped to the board, most snowboarding injuries occur in the upper half of the body, because that is the area that takes the impost impact from falls. Snowboarders tend to drop on their wrists/hands, backsides, heads or shoulders. It might not be surprising to hear that the most common snowboarding injury is a wrist fracture. It’s a natural reflex to reach out to break a fall, after all. The impact to the wrist can also refer damage up through the elbows (including bruising and even dislocation).
If you have learned not to break falls with your wrist, you may end up breaking them with your shoulder instead. Sudden impacts to the shoulders can really cause a lot of painful damage. Bruising and swelling are common, and so are dislocations and even rotator cuff injuries. These impacts can even lead to, or result in broken collarbones – ouch!
Moving up a little further, if you come off your board at speed, you may strike your head before any other part of your body. Concussions can occur, and other neck and head injuries can happen as well. These can vary between a mil concussion and far more serious consequences.
Lower body injuries also occur in snowboarding too, as the knees, legs and feet can come under heavy impact. Using high quality insoles to help cushion and absorb shock will add comfort to your snowboarding and can help reduce foot and heel pain.
Ways to avoid snowboarding injuries
- Learn how to fall safely
- Wear appropriate safety gear for your skill level
- Warm up properly so you’re prepared to hit the slopes
- Don’t assume skiing and snowboarding use the same skills – they don’t!
About Enertor Advanced Technology Insoles – Enertor insoles are designed to prevent a number of common running injuries and provide more comfort. Designed by leading podiatrists to reduce your risk of injury, the unique design features support your foot throughout training. Enertor insoles are enhanced by PX1 impact protection technology, which means they can provide more shock absorption than any other insole. Our expertise, combined with the patented PX1 shock absorption technology, enables Enertor to deliver the most advanced injury prevention insoles on the market today.
Enertor insoles are available to buy from our online shop .
Whilst Enertor has over 18 years Orthotics experience, our blog content is provided for informational purposes only and it is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical advice. Enertor advises anyone with an injury to seek their own medical advice – and do not make any health or medical related decisions based solely on information found on this site
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