Enjoy winter sports without joint injuries

By Song Sang-ho

About 7 million people visit ski resorts in Korea annually, figures show. To make the most of this, ski resorts now open from mid-November.

But with so many skiers and snowboarders, the risk of accidents is increasing.

According to National Emergency Management Agency research, more than 12,700 people were injured while

skiing or snowboarding from 2007 to the first half of 2010.

Such sports are popular because people can enjoy the fast speed and dynamic movements — but they are also dangerous. Moreover, as such sports involve outdoor activities in the cold, muscles or ligaments contract, making them more vulnerable to injuries caused by small impacts.

Knee joints are injured the most in ski resorts. The ankles and knees are fixed on to the ski or the snowboard, and when they are subjects to twisting force, ligaments can easily be damaged.

Anterior cruciate ligament ruptures are the most common injuries, sometimes with lateral meniscal tears as well. The anterior cruciate ligament, which ensures that the knee maintains stability, can easily be twisted so it is susceptible to injuries if external shock is applied or if there is a sudden change in direction.

If you fall and there is a smacking sound in the knee and if you feel like something has been torn, an anterior cruciate ligament rupture is the most likely reason. If the anterior cruciate ligament is ruptured, the pain makes it difficult to walk normally due to hemorrhaging within the joints. Your knee will also swell two-to three hours later.

If the anterior cruciate ligament is left untreated, it will lead to knee instability which may accelerate degenerative arthritis, so precise treatment is needed immediately. If the pain and edema do not subside within five days, you should visit a hospital.

Subluxations are another common injury in ski resorts. These refer to sprains of wrists and ankles in which the movement range of ligaments and soft-tissues that connect the joints has been expanded.

Sprains happen when you fall and your weight is applied to the wrists or ankles when they are unprepared.

People tend to be more aware of fractures or cartilage damage because of the pain, but people tend to ignore sprains. If treatment is delayed or if attention is not paid to treatment, sprains will cause chronic instability in the joints, leading to arthritis.

To prevent injuries while enjoying winter sports activities, it is essential to learn how to fall properly. But if you are injured, the movement of the injured area should be minimized and the injured areas should be massaged with ice. Swelling must then be suppressed by applying pressure using bandages. If possible, the injured area should be placed higher than the heart.

Wearing gear such as knee, wrist and elbow protectors is another way to prevent injuries. In particular, elbow and tailbone protectors are effective.

Remember to stretch sufficiently before and after skiing or snowboarding. Taking a warm shower can reduce articular damages as it relieves stiff muscles.

If you plan to visit a ski resort this winter, be sure to wear the property safety equipment, and make sure to follow the safety instructions to prevent injuries.

The writer is the president of the Wellton Bone & Joint Hospital.