Snowboard Injuries

Now we have a wonderful season for skiing and snowboarding in Asahikawa. Over the past ten years, we see more and more snowboarders on the hill. One reason may be because it is easier to learn than skiing.

Wrist Injuries

The most common injury in snowboarding is to the wrist. Unlike skiers, who can step out when they lose their balance, snowboarders are more likely to topple over and the natural tendency is to fall onto an out stretched hand (hence the term'FOOSH' used in the Emergency Department to describe this action. In Japanese, we use the term “Kabai-Te�, which means, “The hand used to break the fall�). Wrist fractures caused by this action are often not simple injuries and can lead to long-term disability and early development of osteo-arthritis, especially when the break goes through the joint line. One relatively simple method, which may help reduce the risk of injury, is to fall with your arms tucked into your sides and your fists clenched. The problem with this is that it's not easy to remember as you're falling. In addition to this technique, it is highly recommended to purchase wrist guards. You can get them for about \1500 at a sporting goods store. For a meager \1500, it's not worth risking a serious injury.

Lower Limb Injuries

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The rate of major knee injuries in snowboarding is lower than in skiing. The reason for this is that both feet connected to the board protect the snowboarders' knees. But a fair percentage of the knee injuries occur on lifts. Why? The leading leg is still attached to the board whereas the trailing leg is not. Essentially the boarder is now a skier with one hell of a fat ski! While you're on the lift, try not to twist your board.

Compared to knee injuries, the ankle is more commonly injured by snowboarders. The hard shell boots are related to a higher incidence of ankle injuries than soft shell boots. The latter allows ankle movement to some degree, which helps the boarder to maneuver the board and prevent ankle sprain.

Ankle injuries are particularly common after jumping when a combination of compression and inversion forces are experienced. This may lead to an ankle sprain or to a more serious condition called snowboarder's ankle.

This is a fracture of the lateral process of the talus bone in the ankle and it presents like a severe sprain, usually with pain in the area indicated to just under the knobble of bone on the outside of your ankle. Unfortunately it may not show on a normal x-ray and most doctors outside of ski areas may not have heard of it!! It may need a CT scan to diagnose and an operation is required. So, if any snowboarders with an ankle injury still have severe pain or cannot bear weight on the ankle after a week, they need to seek medical attention and mention this injury! It carries a high risk of morbidity if not managed appropriately. Be aware!

Head Injuries

Head injuries are usually the consequence of a fall. Beginners tend to fall on the back edge and bang their heads on the snow as a result. Most head injuries are thankfully minor in nature. However, a head injury, like subdural hematoma, has a high risk of long-term disability or even death.

If you hit your head and have some headache with a partial loss of consciousness, you may have a hemorrhage just under the hard membrane of your brain (subdural hematoma). This requires immediate medical attention. So don't hesitate to seek it out!