Watauga Orthopaedics In the Community: Ice Skating Safety

?It's winter, which means ice skating is one of the more popular recreational sports right now. It's certainly enjoyable to lace up a pair of skates and glide across the ice, pretending you are a professional figure skater, but all too often injuries can occur, some requiring you to leave the rink and head to the emergency room. Whether it's a broken arm from a fall at your local skating rink or a slash in the face from a partner's skate (as in the case of Bryce Davison and Jessica Dube), ice skating injuries are no joke.
Orthopaedic injuries abound in both recreational and professional ice skating. For the amateur, falls are the most common cause of injury, resulting in sprained ankles, bummed knees, broken arms, wrist sprains, etc. For the?professional?figure skater, the injuries can be more serious. The jumping and twisting involved is very demanding on the body, and problems include more than just overuse injuries. Torn ligaments,?tendinitis, foot deformities such as bunions, and even groin pain can all end up taking a professional skater out for a season or even for their career.
Here are some tips to keep the recreational skater safe on the rink this winter:

• Don't sake alone. If an injury does occur, you will need the assistance of a friend.
• Make use of available handrails if you are new to the sport or unsure. If you don't have handrails available to you, use a more stable friend's helping hand.
• Rest when you become tired.
• Wear skates that fit properly and offer enough ankle support. Lace them up tightly for added support.
• Wear clothing that keeps you warm but still allows you plenty of mobility.?
• Skate in the same direction as everyone else to avoid collisions.
• If you do fall, don't tense up. Keep your muscles loose to prevent injuries.
• If you fall and are unhurt, get up as quickly as you can. This may help you avoid tripping someone who may not see you or have time to stop.

Have fun out there on the rink! You can best do this by dressing warmly and staying safe by staying smart.

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Source: http://wataugaortho-inthecommunity.blogspot.com/2013/01/iceskatingsafety.html

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