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Winter Sports

Winter Sports , a Benefit to Your Health . Millions of Americans love winter sports . Frozen lakes, rivers and ponds are the choices for their traditional winter sports . Outdoor gaming is gaining wide popularity with winter sports such as skiing, curling, downhill skiing, figure skating, hunting and trapping, ice fishing, ice hockey, ski jumping, snowshoeing, speed shaking and tobogganing commonly played on a large scale. Golf, softball and ultimate Frisbee are also being adopted for winter sports . With the existence of traditional sports , new and existing events have come up recently for Winter sports such as snowmobiling, freestyle skiing, aerial skiing, ballet skiing, mogul skiing, snowboarding, ringuette, ice boating/ice surfing and snow tubing. 1 Fun apart, winter sports (games) are also associated with an increased number of injuries, especially among children, adolescents and individuals above middle age. Incidence of head injuries caused by winter sports according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by its National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is around 11,723 and by ice skating is 3,115. 2 Commonly seen cold related injuries due to winter sports are sprains and strains particularly on the knee, ankle and feet . Snow blindness caused due to sunburn in the cornea of the eye is another concern associated with winter sports. Symptoms can include painful, watery eyes and temporary blurring of vision also . Frost bite due to reduced blood flow following exposure to extreme cold is also a matter of concern that can lead to amputations. Hypothermia or a rapid fall in body temperature can lead to life threatening situations at times. Shivering, drowsiness, grey or blue facial skin, and cold hard and white skin are the signs of hypothermia wherein the body temperature falls below 35°C. Further fall in the body temperature can result in unconsciousness.3 Individuals above the age of 50 years and playing Winter sports are more prone to a wide range of disorders or conditions such as arthritis, back pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, stroke and bone weakness. This considerably increases their risk of getting injured owing to factors such as lack of limb coordination, lack of flexibility of the joints and muscles, poor vision and numerous other factors. Such risk is higher in Winter sports in individuals who do not follow an active life or do not exercise on a regular basis.4 Precautionary measures should be taken to avoid injuries. Individuals should never participate alone. Warming up thoroughly before starting prevents muscle sprains and strains in people participating in Winter sports . Protective equipments including helmets, gloves and padding should be thoroughly used . Drink water before, during and after the exercise . Instructions in Winter Sports should be taken from qualified instructors. Attention should be given to the warning about upcoming storms and temperature drop. Medical attention should be taken if anybody experiences hypothermia.5 Warmup exercises in cold weather afford extra demands on human bodies. Wearing warm clothes and waterproof clothes protect against hypothermia and frostbites is essential in any kind of Winter Sports . Perfect fitting footwear should be preferred to avoid blisters. Sunscreens are to be applied to avoid from sunburns and closefitting sunglasses are recommended.6, 7 Avoid alcohol as it warms up the body and narrows blood vessels of hands thereby increases the risk of hypothermia. Rest at regular intervals is recommended to avoid fatigue related injury during Winter Sports . Feet are always vulnerable to infections and injuries. Individuals with preexisting conditions such as diabetes should always consult doctors before participating in Winter Sports . 3 Calories burned during exercise depend on the body weight. Calories are needed for our body depending on the age and sex. We need around 2000 and 2600 calories every day . Most of us however consume triple of that number . Luckily there are many ways to burn out the unwanted calories by engaging in Winter Sports . Cold weather doesn’t have to be an excuse for not doing exercise . One of the main advantages of winter sports is that it enhances the well being of the heart . Research has gathered information that wintertime exercise considerably reduces the chance of suffering from stroke or heart disease .8 During exercise calories are burnt according to the body weight, intensity of workout, condition level and metabolism . Calories burned per hour are listed below with example body weights of 130(58.9 kg), 155 (70.3 kg) and 190 pounds (86.1kg).9

Sports	Weight and corresponding amount of caloric burnt
	130lbs	155lbs	190lbs

Ski jumping (climb up carrying skis) Ski machine, general Skiing, cross-country, moderate effort Skiing, cross-country, uphill, maximum effort Skiing, downhill, moderate effort Skiing, snow, general Skiing, waterSki-mobiling, water	413 561 472 974 354 413 354 413	493 669 563 1161 422 493 422 493	604 819 690 1423 518 604 518 604
Skateboarding Skating, ice, general Skating, roller	295 413 413	352 493 493	431 604 604
Sledding, tobogganing, bobsledding, luge	413	493	604
Snowshoeing	400
Ice Fishing in sitting position	118		173
Hockey, Ice	472	563	690
Golf	300
Curling	281	345
Shoveling snow	422	517

Sports	Weight and corresponding amount of caloric burnt
	130lbs	155lbs	190lbs

Aerobics, general	354	422	518
Bowling	177	211	259
Jogging, general	413	493	604
Frisbee playing, general	177	211	259
Health club exercise, general	325	387	474
Scrubbing floors, on hands and knees	325	387	474
Sitting-playin with child(ren)-light	148	176	216
Snowmobiling	207	246	302

19.12.2009. 19:24

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