milehighjc
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2014
- Messages
- 155
In late summer of 2014, I started the thread about reaching middle age and wanting to slalom ski again. Well, it took almost a year, but I finally succeeded last summer. As the season of 2016 approaches, I am thinking more about how to enjoy this (and subsequent) years without incurring a significant injury. I know the time will eventually come that I hang up my slalom ski, but that day is not here yet.
http://www.yorku.ca/alison3/waterskiing.pdf
I happened across this study this morning, and it really gave me pause. It is a study of the distribution of waterskiing and wakeboarding injuries reported at ER?s in 2001-2003. If you are not a numbers geek, the net net net net is for water skiing: not surprisingly, the most prevalent injuries are to the lower extremities, and peak in the 20-24 and 40-44 age brackets. The 50+ age bracket (me) injuries reported drop off significantly, but so does the sample size. What you cant tell from this study is the frequency of injuries? I would love to see something like incidence of injury as a percent of ?skier days? broken down by age groups (hopefully something more granular than 50+ too).
My wife?s orthopedic surgeon gave me the stink eye when I told him about my slalom skiing adventures of last summer (he is a family friend as well). That meeting is what started me thinking about safety, and the study above confirmed what seems like common sense to me. I get that I am taking a significant risk (at 56). I accept that risk? but intend to do whatever I can to mitigate it for the coming season. Some things seem really obvious to me:
For those in my age group, what do you do (or not do) to avoid major injuries? Anyone experience a significant injury? If so what could have been done to avoid it?
http://www.yorku.ca/alison3/waterskiing.pdf
I happened across this study this morning, and it really gave me pause. It is a study of the distribution of waterskiing and wakeboarding injuries reported at ER?s in 2001-2003. If you are not a numbers geek, the net net net net is for water skiing: not surprisingly, the most prevalent injuries are to the lower extremities, and peak in the 20-24 and 40-44 age brackets. The 50+ age bracket (me) injuries reported drop off significantly, but so does the sample size. What you cant tell from this study is the frequency of injuries? I would love to see something like incidence of injury as a percent of ?skier days? broken down by age groups (hopefully something more granular than 50+ too).
My wife?s orthopedic surgeon gave me the stink eye when I told him about my slalom skiing adventures of last summer (he is a family friend as well). That meeting is what started me thinking about safety, and the study above confirmed what seems like common sense to me. I get that I am taking a significant risk (at 56). I accept that risk? but intend to do whatever I can to mitigate it for the coming season. Some things seem really obvious to me:
- Weight loss: I am 10 lbs lighter than I was at the start of last season, but 10 more than I was a the close of last season. Ill shed that, and hopefully more before the slalom ski comes out in late April/early May.
- Conditioning: As much cardio as I can possibly fit in. Avoiding slalom skiing when exhausted seems like a good idea.
- Strength: My first inclination was lots of legs and chest exercise, but I really think core is probably even more important.
- Probably the one I need the most focus on is flexibility. I work in a desk job, and winter is hell on flexibility. My hamstrings are much tighter now than they were last season. Have to get that fixed before I boot up.
For those in my age group, what do you do (or not do) to avoid major injuries? Anyone experience a significant injury? If so what could have been done to avoid it?