Experts say it's important to update your skis and snowboards to make them safer on the slopes."We're seeing a lot of people who, you're losing weight, gaining muscle, those are all factored in to the binding checks on skis," said Tom Crowley, Owner and Manager at The Ski Shop Plus in North Smithfield.Age, too, is a factor. If you're under 10 or over 50, the settings will be changed, for safety.Then, there's knowing the surface conditions. If the surface conditions are hard and icy, you are at risk of injuries."We tend to see upper extremity injuries," said Dr. Michael Belanger who knows first hand. He's an avid skier and a sports injury doctor at University Orthopedics."If the snow is sticky, or the snow is deep, we tend to have more twisting injuries, usually knee injuriesOne of the most common injuries? Something known as skiers thumb."The way it's felt to typically happen is the pole will hit the ground in a fall, and then your hand will fall on top of it and be pushed too far, stretching or spraining the ligament that connects the two bones," explained Belanger."During a fall, let go of the pole so that the hand doesn't land on to that lever.""Snowboarding is a little different than skiing," said Dr. Michael Staebler, also a sports injury physician at University Orthopedics. Snowboarding is his sport of choice.Wrist guards, he said, are a must."We recommend ones like this, that have a bar on both the bottom and top," said Staebler.He knows firsthand how important these are."When I was a resident, I was snowboarding and fell, and I injured my wrist, and I spent eight weeks in a cast," recalled Staebler.That led to research that showed how effective wrist guards are.Also, make sure your board is tuned up and the screws that bolt your shoes in are tight.Another must is a good helmet!"Everyone wants MIPS when they come in. It's just that extra little safety level," said Crowley.The MIPS system provides a low-friction layer to help prevent against head injuries. Look for its label on helmets.

Experts advise updated gear, proper techniques to prevent skiing, snowboarding injuries

Then, there’s knowing the surface conditions. If the surface conditions are hard and icy, you are at risk of injuries.”The way it’s felt to typically happen is the pole will hit the ground in a fall, and then your hand will fall on top of it and be pushed too far, stretching or spraining the […]

Then, there’s knowing the surface conditions. If the surface conditions are hard and icy, you are at risk of injuries.”The way it’s felt to typically happen is the pole will hit the ground in a fall, and then your hand will fall on top of it and be pushed too far, stretching or spraining the ligament that connects the two bones,” explained Belanger.”Snowboarding is a little different than skiing,” said Dr. Michael Staebler, also a sports injury physician at University Orthopedics. Snowboarding is his sport of choice.”During a fall, let go of the pole so that the hand doesn’t land on to that lever.””We’re seeing a lot of people who, you’re losing weight, gaining muscle, those are all factored in to the binding checks on skis,” said Tom Crowley, Owner and Manager at The Ski Shop Plus in North Smithfield.Another must is a good helmet!One of the most common injuries? Something known as skiers thumb.Experts say it’s important to update your skis and snowboards to make them safer on the slopes.He knows firsthand how important these are.Wrist guards, he said, are a must.Age, too, is a factor. If you’re under 10 or over 50, the settings will be changed, for safety.”When I was a resident, I was snowboarding and fell, and I injured my wrist, and I spent eight weeks in a cast,” recalled Staebler.”We tend to see upper extremity injuries,” said Dr. Michael Belanger who knows first hand. He’s an avid skier and a sports injury doctor at University Orthopedics.Also, make sure your board is tuned up and the screws that bolt your shoes in are tight.”We recommend ones like this, that have a bar on both the bottom and top,” said Staebler.The MIPS system provides a low-friction layer to help prevent against head injuries. Look for its label on helmets.That led to research that showed how effective wrist guards are.”If the snow is sticky, or the snow is deep, we tend to have more twisting injuries, usually knee injuries”Everyone wants MIPS when they come in. It’s just that extra little safety level,” said Crowley.