Injuries at water parks
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By Song Sang-ho
As the scorching heat has continued since the beginning of June, water parks around the country opened a week earlier than last year.
Equipped with diverse rides and facilities, these water parks have become popular summer retreat destinations for families as well as lovers. As they are usually located not very far from urban areas, they seem to be perfect place for a simple excursion.
However, it is surprisingly common to see patients seeking medical treatment for injuries they got at water parks. Among the most frequent types of injuries there are various bone fractures caused by slipping. In particular, although many women wear high wedge heels to look their best, I would advise them to refrain from wearing those to prevent injuries. As the floor is slippery, one easily slips while wearing high heels, which could lead to an ankle sprain. Ankle sprains rarely heal when left alone and should be quickly treated and cared for to prevent it from causing damage to surrounding ligaments.
In some serious cases, slippery floors could also lead to bone fractures. Also, if you slip and fall on your knees, it could result in an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. An anterior cruciate ligament rupture should also be treated quickly and early on to prevent it from deteriorating into degenerative arthritis. If the damage is severe, it can be treated by conducting an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using an arthroscopy.
You should also take caution when walking bare foot or in heelless footwear such as flip-flops. If you often run or walk on your bare foot, the impact from the ground is completely absorbed by the sole, which may cause foot joint disorders such as plantar fasciitis. The same goes for when walking or running on footwear without any heels. Thus, it is advised that you select footwear that has an appropriate heel length and cushions on the soles and also check whether it is slip-proof to care for your joint health.
Water park rides should also be paid special attention to. The degree of risk varies depending on how much you enjoy the various rides such as wave pools, artificial waterfalls and water slides. Typically, for an artificial wave pool, about 1,000 tons of water fall to make waves as high as two to three meters, which means that the weight and impact of the wave can be substantial. As a result, if you are directly hit on your head with the water, the impact on your neck and back will be greater than you think. Therefore, if you have a cervical disk problem or suffer from straight neck syndrome, you are advised to refrain from directly being hit by the artificial wave.
I would advise that you enjoy fun rides moderately. The burden on the spine increases when sliding down the water slides and it could possibly cause a spinal joint injury such as spraining of the lumbar spine. There have also been quite a number of serious cases of abrasion caused from the use of water rides without following the safety rules.
If you feel any pain in your neck or back which lasts for more than a week after enjoying your time in the water, it may be due to a musculoskeletal disorder and it is advised that you obtain an accurate diagnosis from hospital.
Furthermore, you must be careful when diving into the water where it is shallow. When diving, the depth of the water should be greater than your height because you enter the water head first. Diving in very shallow water may lead to a cervical spine injury. When you dive into the water on your stomach, it may cause abrasive damage due to the friction with the water surface or a visceral cleft.
Most of all, taking preventive caution is crucial. Before entering the water, you should do warm-up exercises and always follow the safety rules when using the water rides. Safely enjoying your time in the water begins with forming a safe and healthy habit.
Many people probably have plans to go enjoy water activities with their families or loved ones during the summer vacation. There is nothing better than enjoying the coolness of the water to wash away the summer heat, but we should never forget that safety is the most important thing when you look back at the happy memories during your summer vacation.
The writer is the president of Wellton Bone & Joint Hospital.