If watching the Winter Olympics made you want to try some new sports, go slow and ease into them, sports medicine experts caution.

“The biggest issue we see are people who push too hard when trying something for the first time, and it gets out of control,” said Dr. Jayson Loeffert, a sports medicine doctor with Penn State Health.

Whatever new sport you try, “you want to do it at a level you are comfortable with,” he said in a university news release.

That starts with proper training.

“Whether it’s a winter or summer sport, you should go into any athletic activity with some element of preparation,” said Dr. Aman Dhawan, an orthopedic surgeon with Penn State Health. “You’ll get more enjoyment from a performance standpoint, but it’s also really important for injury prevention as well.”

For instance, cardiovascular training helps boost endurance. Strength training builds up muscle around the bones and joints, which can help prevent injuries and speed recovery when injuries do occur.

Loeffert said it’s also important to use equipment that matches your skill level.

“The skis they use in the Olympics are very long because that helps you go fast, but they are also harder to control,” he said. “If you’re not at that level, you’ll want a shorter ski that is easier to control.”

A helmet can help prevent scalp cuts and skull fractures. What it can’t do, Loeffert said, is eliminate the risk of concussion.

“That is a common misconception,” he said. “Many people believe their helmet will stop them from getting a concussion, but this just isn’t true. The brain still moves within the head, and this cannot be changed by using a helmet.”

That said, most injuries from winter sports are minor, Loeffert said — bumps and bruises that require just ice, over-the-counter pain medicine and rest.

More information

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more on winter sports safety.

Source: HealthDay

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