Cold weather and snow are not the only things that arrive when fall fades into winter. The change in season also brings some injuries that are unique to winter. If you’ve experienced an injury while performing a wintertime activity, you’re not alone.
Personal injuries during winter commonly occur while performing otherwise simple activities. You’re more susceptible to pain and injury from your back, shoulders, and neck to joints and knees during winter.
However, through education and precaution, you can prevent winter injuries.
This post will highlight some of the more common winter injuries that we treat here at the Urgency Room, as well as provide you with some tips for preventing injury.
Are Injuries More Common in Winter?
Injuries definitely tend to spike during the winter months. The colder weather, slippery surfaces, and popular winter activities create a perfect storm for bumps, bruises, and breaks.
Daily activities like driving or walking down the sidewalk become more risky during this time of year.
What Are Winter Weather Injuries?
Any injury caused directly by snowy and icy conditions or cold temperatures counts as winter weather injuries.
Here’s a quick overview of what that usually looks like:
- Slipping on ice: Whether it’s on sidewalks, driveways, or parking lots, icy surfaces send people tumbling all the time. Sprained wrists, twisted ankles, and even fractured bones are common outcomes.
- Winter sports: Activities like skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sledding are fun but can lead to serious injuries if things go wrong. Think of sprains, concussions, or broken bones.
- Car accidents: We already know snow and ice make driving risky. Poor road conditions mean more accidents, resulting in anything from minor scrapes to serious injuries.
- Shoveling snow: It might seem harmless, but shoveling can strain your back, shoulders, and heart—especially for those with underlying health issues.
- Cold-related illnesses and injuries: Frostbite and hypothermia are real dangers when people are exposed to the cold for too long without proper gear. Winter is also flu season in the US, so keep an eye out for symptoms and get vaccinated.
Winter can be a beautiful season, but it’s also one where we need to slow down, take precautions, and stay aware of our surroundings. A little extra care—whether you’re driving, walking, or hitting the slopes—can go a long way in keeping you safe!
Ice and Snow Injuries
Ice and snow can cause a variety of specific injuries. The slipperiness of ice combined with frozen ground creates an unforgiving environment.
Steps, sidewalks, and driveways are prime real estate for hard-to-see ice. Balancing on ice you’re aware of is tricky, but recovering your balance after stepping on a patch of ice you couldn’t see is even more challenging.
The types of injuries that occur due to falling on the ice and snow include:
- Head Injuries: Any slip or fall that leads to suffering a head wound should be taken very seriously. If you fall and hit your head, find your nearest Urgency Room or medical provider to receive treatment.
- Broken Bones, Dislocations, Sprains, and Strains: Slipping on ice and snow often leads you to fall and strain your extremities, which can lead to different injuries.
Taking extra precautions while outdoors is essential. Make sure that snow and ice are cleared away from the sidewalks, steps, and driveway of your residence. Dropping salt on cement steps is an effective additional measure to melt ice on the steps and give traction to those walking on them. These tactics will help you avoid injury.
Back Injuries Caused By Shoveling
One of the least appealing winter tasks is shoveling the driveway and sidewalk. Shoveling can require significant physical exertion, especially when there’s a lot of snowfall. The repetitive twisting and lifting while shoveling can cause severe strain on the back.
All it takes is one muscle to be pulled the wrong way for your back, neck, or shoulders to seize up.
To avoid injury, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t overdo it when shoveling.
- Know the physical limits of your body, and assess the physical toll required to clear away the snow before you begin.
- If you’re limited physically or suffer from chronic back pain, consider a snow blower to make the process easier on your back. Or, try to find a neighbor to help.
- Take breaks as needed.
- Use heat or ice to relax your muscles during breaks and when you’re finished.
The most common injuries suffered during shoveling are soft tissue injuries, typically in the lower back muscles. Seek help if you injure your back.
What Are The Most Common Winter Sports Injuries?
For winter sports athletes, the cold and snow-ridden season many people dread is the most enjoyable season of the year. Winter sports include skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, hockey, snowmobiling, and others. Each sport brings with it the potential for injuries.
All the risk factors involved in walking on the snow and ice increase with the speeds that athletes reach while enjoying their winter sports. Like all-season sports played in warmer months, the physical exertion required renders athletes more vulnerable to injury.
Some of the injuries that can be suffered in winter sports include:
- Head Injuries: Always wear a helmet for the activities that call for it.
- Broken Bones, Dislocations, Sprains, and Strains: Collisions and falls can lead to a number of injuries.
- Knee Injuries: Winter sports that require sharp, sudden movements leave athletes vulnerable to knee injuries.
- Pulled Muscles: Physical exertion during the winter or otherwise increases the likelihood of pulling or straining a muscle.
- Exercise-Induced Asthma: Anyone can develop this condition, but athletes involved in high-tensity training (especially in cold, dry environments) have a higher likelihood of developing it.
It’s always recommended to take safety precautions when enjoying winter sports. Wear all the protective gear your sport requires, and pay close attention to changing weather. You don’t want to get unexpectedly stuck in a blizzard while enjoying a winter sport.
Car Accidents
Life doesn’t stop when the snow comes. Work, school, volunteering, and other commitments still exist. Snow and ice create difficult driving conditions, leading to an uptick in traffic accidents. Ice, moisture, cold temperatures, and other factors make it harder for cars to gain traction and come to a sudden stop.
Injuries suffered during a winter car accident are similar to those suffered during non-winter car accidents. Depending on the severity of the collision, a car crash can leave a person with anything from minor scrapes and bruises to life-threatening injuries.
During the winter, and especially when the roads are bad, it’s important to take more time and drive at speeds appropriate for the conditions.
The extra five or ten minutes you spend in the car taking it slow are well worth it, in contrast to the impactful and damaging injuries you can suffer if you get into an accident.
Treat Winter Injuries at the Urgency Room
Winter injuries are common, but they still need to be treated. You always have a friendly and efficient choice in The Urgency Room. We have three convenient locations in Woodbury, Vadnais Heights, and Eagan, providing both in-person and online care.