Who, how and what gets injured?

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Snowboarding

Forward falls commonly result in shoulder-girdle injuries: anything from rotator cuff (shoulder) strains to collar bone fractures. Falls backwards more commonly produce wrist fractures or strains, spinal injuries (low back and/or neck area) and head injuries, usually from a direct blow to the back of the skull during a fall. All can happen at any ability level.

Skiing

The types of injury are more linked to ability level than in snowboarding. Beginners spend their time in the snowplough position, in which you have to keep your legs turned inwards with knees bent, to maintain your skis in a V point in front of you. This fixed position imposes strain on the medial collateral ligament (MCL). The MCL comes under further strain as the snowplough width increases (when, for instance, ski tips cross and lock).

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