Winter Sports Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness

Articles

Jan 1

Ski season is upon us! Most mountains are covered in snow this time of year, and, for some, that means bundling up and hitting the slopes. Lift machines are in full rotation and hot chocolate machines are stocked and running non-stop while a rush of patrons fresh out of the Christmas haze forms a queue to rent ski or snowboarding gear in hopes of returning to their favorite sport or trying something new for the first time. The bunny slopes are busy with young ones and newbies, while novice adventurists board the lift, ready to tackle their first downward hill of the season.

These activities, combined with the scenery, make for a beautiful day in nature while you’re zipping past lines of trees and feeling the crisp air on your cheeks, but they also introduce hazards. As a matter of fact, January is National Winter Sports Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. Newly waxed skis and snowboards combined with freshly packed snow are the ideal conditions for any winter sports enthusiast, but these can sometimes limit the control a person has over their speed and direction.

How Common Are Winter Sports Injuries?

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2018 there were 76,000 injuries from snow skiing; 53,000 injuries from snowboarding; 48,000 injuries from ice skating; and 22,000 injuries from sledding and tobogganing. These numbers include injuries such as sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures. Most of these injuries can be prevented by wearing appropriate protective gear and learning defensive maneuvers to avoid collision with others and nature, but oftentimes the combination of slick snow and fast speeds results in head traumas. The Centers for Disease Control reported that in 2019, “There were approximately 223,135 TBI-related hospitalizations and 64,362 TBI-related deaths in 2020.” Sadly, these figures do not include those who were treated by their primary care physician, who were only treated in the emergency department, at urgent care, or left untreated.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines Traumatic brain injury (TBI) as “an occurrence when external physical forces cause damage to the brain, whether from impact, penetrating objects, blast waves or rapid movement of the brain within the skull. TBI severity has been classified as mild, moderate, or severe based primarily on the Glasgow Coma Scale in combination with an assessment of periods of loss/alterations of consciousness and imaging scans of the brain.” Knowing the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury could help you or your loved one reach care faster. These include:

Unconsciousness
Struggles with memory or concentration
A pale appearance
Blurry vision or eye disturbances, such as light sensitivity
Fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears
Weakness in the arms or legs
Feeling lightheaded
Hearing a ringing in the ear
Headaches, especially if the headache gets worse over time
A bad taste in the mouth
Feeling confused or disoriented
Experiencing dizziness
Behavioral or mood changes following an incident

What is the Most Common Injury?

The most common brain injury to follow sudden impact is a concussion. The CDC defines concussions as “a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.” Concussions can be short-term with symptom relief 7-10 days following the incident, but it is more likely you’ll experience a second concussion if you’ve experienced one, to begin with.

Repeated concussions, or severe concussions, can lead to a condition called post-concussion syndrome. This will have a lasting impact on the individual and could develop into sleep disorders, disabilities, pain, and cognitive dysfunction. Identifying a concussion can be tricky, but it's helpful to know what to look for if you suspect someone is experiencing a concussion.

Slurred speech, a delayed response to questions, forgetfulness, and a dazed expression could indicate something is wrong. If any of these occur, it is of the utmost importance to get that person's medical attention as quickly as possible.

Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury in Winter Sports

Avoiding scenarios that could lead to brain injury isn’t always the answer, but a little knowledge and preparation could prevent serious problems if the situation arises. The following are recommended practices everyone should consider before engaging in an activity that could lead to a traumatic brain injury.

Strength in numbers; bring a buddy with you so you’re not alone if injury occurs.
Make sure to warm up, stretch, and know your limits. Listening to your body is key to remaining in control of one's self.
Invest in quality gear, inspect it before use, and wear what is appropriate. If you’re inexperienced, wearing a ski helmet will keep your head and ears dry while adding another layer of protection. Loose clothing and proper footwear will increase mobility and provide ankle support.
Taking a lesson from a trained professional will provide you with tips and tricks, and situations to look out for. They may even provide some helpful information regarding falls or collisions that help you feel more prepared to tackle the slopes.
Get your bearings and keep weather conditions in mind. Weather can change rapidly on a mountain - and avalanches can come out of nowhere. Knowing where you are in proximity to safety or shelter could literally save your life.
Most importantly, stay hydrated. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water as this helps regulate your body temperature, lubricates your joints, and transports nutrients to your muscles.
If you’re tobogganing, sitting upright with your feet in front of you is the best practice. Sledding or tobogganing head-first down a hill will increase your risk of head injury.

Keeping these efforts in mind, in combination with knowing and understanding the risks involved, will reduce your risk of injury and allow you to enjoy a full day of fast-paced fun.