By: Dr. Amir Mahmud

With the upcoming snow season around the corner many of us are getting ready to hit the slopes. We are buying the newest boards, bindings and snow gear to help us perform better. But the one thing we usually don’t think about is that a healthy body can significantly contribute to enhanced performance. Here are a few tips on how to get ready for the slopes and what to do in order to prevent injuries.

• Warm up/stretch prior to hitting the slopes:

o Like any other sporting event it is a good idea to warm up and stretch to
Getting ready for the slopes the right way!!!

o Warming up and stretching increases your flexibility, which can help prevent sprains/strains and as a result improve your performance.

• Get on a strength program:

o In order to avoid low back injuries associated with twisting and jumping it is essential to have a strong core for stability.

o Strengthening the knee is also crucial for winter sports. Your knee acts as a hinge in between your hips and ankle. With the ankles strapped into your boots a lot of the pressure is going to be put on the knees. As a result knee injuries are very common in snowboarding and skiing.. In order to prevent knee injuries you want to strengthen your quads, calf’s and hamstrings. Simple exercises such as calf raises, wall squats, lunges and hamstring curls work great for knee stability.

• Wear a helmet:

o This is going to be very crucial when it comes to injury prevention. No matter if you are playing a contact sport like football or a non contact sport such as snowboarding or skiing wearing a helmet can prevent catastrophic brain injuries and save lives.

• Get adjusted:

o You might ask why do I need to be adjusted? Adjustments help normalize the body’s biomechanics, restore abnormal function, and increase muscle strength. As a result you will have increased range of motion, which will enhance your ride.

Hope these tips have helped you. If you have any specific questions in regards to strength programs or specific injuries feel free to drop us a line and we will get back to you. Have fun out there and be safe.

Dr. Amir Mahmud is a Sports Chiropractor at CSI (Chiropractic Sports Institute) in Westlake Village. Dr. Amir has vast experience working with athletes both professional and Amateur. He is the current Team Doctor for the Newbury Park HS Lacrosse team and travels with the Mobile CSI Sports Medicine team caring for athletes across southern California. He can be reached at (805) 371-0737. www.gotcsi.com