The holidays are upon us and the only thing we are missing this year is the white stuff that generally makes winter more festive, SNOW!!!  Hopefully, within the next few weeks we will get some to go along with this frigid weather.  One of my favorite pastimes, along with building a snowman of course, is sledding.  This was back in the day of knitted string mittens and the old rickety wooden sleds, but as with any activity, it is not without risks.  Working in physical therapy I have treated a number of patients that were injured sledding which has prompted the topic for this week's topic.

Sledding is a fun way to enjoy the winter weather, but it can be dangerous if done recklessly and without precautions.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these safety tips for sledders of any age:

Stay away from steep and dangerous slopes that end on the road.  Look for more level hills.  Make sure the hills are clear before you sled down them -- check for holes and anything else that may obstruct the sledder's path -- including trees, fences, telephone poles or rocks.  Stay away from hills near lakes, streams or ponds.  Even if these bodies of water look frozen, they may not be frozen all the way through.  Never sled near streets or traffic.  Never sled down a hill head-first.  Sledders should wear gloves and boots to protect against frostbite and injury. 

As with any injury, contact us at Alliance Physical Therapy for professional evaluation and treatment.  May your new year be healthy and safe!!!

Yours in health,

Valerie