ICASC Advantage Blog

With winter just around the corner, your kids will be itching to get outside and participate in cold weather activities. The problem is that with the colder weather comes the increased risk that your child may suffer an injury from a winter sport. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sports such as snowboarding or sledding account for a substantial number of visits to hospital emergency rooms each year. The majority of injuries experienced included:

A recent study by Canadian researchers found that football players were at a higher risk of injury during practice and games that were played in the wintertime. Out of the five most common injuries studied, the risk for ankle and shoulder injuries rose by almost 150 percent. While some of the increase in injuries may be related to sports equipment reacting differently to colder temperatures, it’s important not to forget the colder weather’s effect on your body. Your muscles get tight and you have decreased mobility.

One of the most feared injuries for athletes is an ACL tear. As one of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee, a minor tear or complete rupture of the ACL could mean months of recovery or possibly an end to playing sports. An injury to the ACL can cause the knee to give out and increase the possibility of injuring other parts of the knee.