Winter Sports Injuries and Spine Care

While you are outside shoveling this winter, or playing at winter sports, remember that excessive strain on the spine can and does occur from many winter activities. Sports like skiing, hockey and even snowmobiling can having a jarring effect on the spine that may cause discomfort and even injury if left unattended.

Vertebrae become compressed with activities that have impact related movement. The muscles and joints can then become stiff and immobile, limiting range of motion and causing pain and discomfort. Even minor movements like lifting laundry, and mowing the lawn can cause displacement of the spinal column.

Although the discs are natural shock absorbers for the body and spine, any misalignment can cause serious degenerative issues later in life. Maintaining spinal health and mobility is one of the main methods for sustaining total body health.

In the case of winter sports, the movement of a snowmobile closely resembles an automobile, except that the driver does not wear a seat belt on a snowmobile. The constant stop and start forward movement of a snowmobile can cause trouble in the neck area. Hockey is another sport that offers little by way of neck support and protection, and yet places the player in dangerous circumstances for injury due to the weight of the helmet, speeding up and slowing down, as well as the excessive physical contact of the sport.

Skiers frequently have misaligned hip joints, together with a flattening of the curve in the lower back. Again, these jolting and jarring motions create tremendous strain on the spine in every area. As these strains increase, more and more of the body weight becomes unevenly distributed, resulting in further aches and pains throughout the body.

Because the nerves of the spine connect with virtually every other part of the body, it is vitally necessary to take every precaution and preventive measure to protect the spine from injury of any kind. In the absence of this, regular chiropractic visits are a sure method of maintaining the stability and balance within the spine and whole body.