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Protect your Head on the Slopes!
Fri, January 27, 2012
With winter upon us, Canadians are gearing up for another skiing and snowboarding season. The Nova Scotia Physiotherapy Association (NSPA) and Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) are strongly encouraging Canadians of all ages to wear helmets when downhill skiing or snowboarding.
While helmets do not prevent all head injuries, they can minimize the effects of a blow to the head. The Canadian Standards Association has said wearing helmets on the ski hill can reduce the risk of head injury by 60 per cent. Helmets should be certified by a safety standard organization and fit comfortably but snugly.
Nova Scotia recently became the first jurisdiction in the world to make helmet use mandatory for snow sports. This new legislation comes into effect in November 2012.
NSPA strongly encourages skiers and snowboarders to make helmets part of their mandatory equipment even before the legislation comes into effect next winter.
"The consequences of a brain injury, even what seems like a minor one, can be devastating and can last for a lifetime," says Mary Solomon, the Chair of CPA's Neurosciences Division. "A brain injury can result in physical disability such as paralysis, but more importantly can result in changing the essence of the person - how they interpret and interact with the world. Personality, emotions, thinking abilities can all be affected; life is forever changed," stresses Solomon. "We need to protect our brains by protecting our heads, at all ages. Wearing a helmet is one good way."
You can also minimize the risk of falling and injuries by being in good physical condition, warming up, and taking breaks. NSPA has the following tips:
• Train your muscles by doing strengthening exercises that reflect the physical demands and movements of the sport (e.g., squats for skiing).
• Do a 10-15 minute gentle but dynamic warm-up, reproducing some of the movements of the sport you will be doing.
• Take rest breaks as needed. Avoid squeezing in an extra run if you are tired.
• Have even minor musculoskeletal injuries assessed and treated by a physiotherapist to prevent the risk of injury recurrence.
Above all, always wear a helmet! Help make the skiing and snowboarding season safer and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Tags: concussion - head injury - helmets - skiing - snow boarding - winter sports
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