Carve Better Turns with Chiropractic Care

The white stuff has started to fly here in Montana.  And that means soon skiers and boarders will be hitting the slopes to carve some sweet turns.

But if your joints are aching just thinking about shredding downhill, perhaps it’s time to come see Dr. Shayne Durbin, a chiropractor in Billings, to help get things aligned so you can feel the rush once again.

Common Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries

Skiing and boarding are hard on the knees.  But those aren’t the only injuries that can come from this sport.  While you should be staying on your feet the entire time, wipeouts happen.  When they do, things can get twisted and yanked.

Neck and Spine Injuries

Crashing while whipping down the mountain can go very wrong.  As you tumble along, your neck and spine get twisted in ways that they really aren’t supposed to twist.  Spinal adjustments can help get minor injuries back in place, but if further damage is done, like with a slipped disc, surgery may be required.

Knee Injuries

Even if skiers manage to stay upright, there’s a lot of strain on your knees as you descend the mountain.  But if you do fall, those knees can take a lot of stress.  Most skis are designed to pop off if you twist in them too much.  Some skiers, however, like to tighten up the bindings considerably.  The result is that the ski won’t come loose, and can cause damage to the joints as you tumble.

Wrist and Elbow Injuries

The most common injury for snowboarders is actually a wrist injury.  As you’re carving down the mountain and you catch an edge, you either fall backward or get flung forward.  You can’t just let your face pile drive into the snow, so you try to stop yourself.  Fractured wrists are common.  If you’re lucky, it’s a sprain and the bones are just out of line, a chiropractor will get those set back in place for you.

Ligament Tears

ACL and MCL tears are common injuries that put athletes out of commission for a long time.  These tears are slow to heal, and often people never fully return to their pre-tear status.  While a chiropractor can’t help fix these issues, regular adjustments can make sure your body is in order so that you don’t get injured in the first place.

How to Prevent Injuries on the Hills

There are several reasons skiers and snowboarders get injured on the mountain.  Some of it is bad luck, some is pushing yourself too hard.

Dehydration – It’s easy to get dehydrated when it’s cold out.  You don’t realize how much water you’re losing if you aren’t sweating.  Hydrate up so you don’t wear down.

Poor Recovery – The mountain is only open for a few hours, trying to squeeze in those turns when you body needs a break can lead to injury.  Take a break to let your muscles recover.

Bad Equipment – Or improperly tuned equipment can mean the skis don’t pop off when they should.  Make sure you have good equipment that fits your body.

Hucking off Cliffs – Yeah, it’s fun to catch some air, but build up to those big jumps.

Most importantly: make sure your body is in good working order before you head up to the mountain.

Come See your Billings Chiropractor for an Adjustment

Some ski and snowboarding injuries can be helped after you have already been injured.  But regular adjustments throughout the year will make sure that your joints are working properly, and your body is functioning optimally.  The best way to heal from an injury is to make sure it doesn’t happen to begin with.

Whether you borked your knee already, or you need to make sure you don’t bork your knee while skiing, schedule an appointment with a chiropractor near you.  Call our office at 406-545-2128, or use our online appointment request form and we’ll get you scheduled.