Tips to Keep You Safer on the Slopes: Alameda Chiropractor
Ski season is here. But it’s best to be ready when you hit your first run. Dr. Cynthia Boyd and her team at Symmetry Health Center have some tips designed to keep you safe on the slopes this year.
Start getting into shape four to six weeks before your ski trip. If you haven’t been exercising, start out by walking on level ground every day for half an hour. Then build up to some hills.
Once your body can take this strain, you’ll want to focus on specific exercises to strengthen your back, knees, and hips. Skiing puts a lot of strain on these body parts, so you want to condition them before you hit the slopes. Because when your knees get tired, each bump exerts more force on your spine.
Key exercises are
- Lunges strengthen the buttocks as well as the quads and hamstrings.
- Squats give you the power you need for turning and stopping. They also strengthen the lower back, so you balance better while cruising down the mountain.
- Planks work the core of the body. A strong core provides balance and stability, preventing falls and reducing your risk of injury.
Before you hit the slopes, take at least five minutes stretching to warm up the muscles in your back, legs and arms.
Consider one or two lessons at the beginning of the season to get rid of any bad habits. And make your first and last run of the day on the easier slopes. Most injuries happen near the end of the day, when you get tired.
If the ski trip does take a toll on your body, consider a visit to Symmetry Health in Oakland and Alameda. Dr. Boyd and her team of chiropractors are among only a handful of Oakland and Alameda-area chiropractors certified in Chiropractic BioPhysics, the most researched and results-oriented corrective chiropractic technique. Unlike regular chiropractic, which focuses on immediate pain relief, Chiropractic BioPhysics goes one step further to correct the source of the problem.
Contact us to determine if you are a candidate for care at one of our Symmetry Health Center locations in Oakland or Alameda.
