December: tips for skiing and boarding
Fresh powder on the hills means it’s time to keep skiers and boarders injury free all season long.
BC Physiotherapists share 4 tips to prevent injury, alleviate pain and keep British Columbians moving for life.
Vancouver, BC December 3, 2012| Winter is in the air. And that means skiers and boarders have one thing on their minds, hitting the slopes. Now that the ski hills are open and snow is in the forecast, BC’s physiotherapists want to share their skiing and boarding tips so British Columbians can stay pain and injury free all season long.
“As with any sport, it’s important to get your body in good condition before you hit the slopes,” says Rebecca B. Tunnacliffe, CEO of the Physiotherapy Association of BC. “A combination cardio and weight program will help strengthen muscles and prepare your body to ski or ride all season long. If you haven’t kept up your fitness prior to the start of the season, consider a ski-fit class – this will help to prevent injury and pain after your first day out.”
Physiotherapists have extensive knowledge and can design a safe and effective pre- and post-slopes warm-up program to keep skiers and boarders pain and injury free. Here are some of their top tips, used by Olympic gold medalist Maëlle Ricker:
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Develop strength in the off-season.
Cycling and weight training are great options for skiers and boarders. Cycling develops cardio and weight training strengthens the muscles needed to be explosive on the slopes. Your physiotherapist can develop an off-season program to improve your on-hill performance. -
Warm up before hitting the slopes to prevent injury.
The lure of fresh tracks makes many people rush to the lifts and ignore a warm-up. However, a light jog and stretching beforehand will make those first powder runs even better and reduce your risk of injury. -
Drink water.
It’s easy to skip rehydrating when you’re doing laps in the terrain park but make sure you take time to sip water. If you’re on the mountain multiple days in a row, it’s important to keep hydrated so your body can recover more easily after a long day on the hill. -
Choose the right equipment.
Good boots that fit properly and a snowboard or skis that are tuned for the current conditions will make your day more enjoyable. Wearing a helmet that fits reduces the risk of a concussion and head injury.
The Physiotherapy Association of BC created the Physio-4 to share the expertise of its members with fellow British Columbians. “Each month, on our website (movingforlife.ca), we provide 4 tips for a specific activity or health issue relating to that month to help keep British Columbians moving for life,” says Tunnacliffe. “We want British Columbians to know that if they are injured or in pain, a physiotherapist can help. After all, we are the healthcare professionals physicians recommend most,” she states. The Physio-4Tips for Skiing & Boarding provides suggestions to keep skiers and boarders pain and injury free both on and off the mountain.
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