Treating Common Winter Injuries With Physiotherapy
Winter is here and will be with us for a while. It takes some luck to get through this season without at least one winter-related injury. From snow and ice slips to the hazards of hanging Christmas lights, accidents happen and can leave us needing some professional treatment.
Common Winter Injuries
During the winter, watch out for the following injuries:
- Sports Injuries. While sports-related injuries can happen all year long, the added cold and slippery surfaces make winter favorites such as ice hockey, skiing and sledding especially dangerous.
- Slip & Falls. Untreated roads, snow-covered sidewalks and black ice make for dangerous walking during the cold months. Taking a spill can result in a variety of injuries including back injuries, broken hips, and ankle sprains.
- Heavy Snow. With no shortage of snow during Canadian winters, repeatedly lifting and twisting during the act of shovelling can result in strained and pulled muscles.
- Whiplash. According to the RCMP, car insurance companies see an increase of nearly 50%in collision-related claims during the months of December and January. Neck injuries such as whiplash often occur during collisions.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
The human body is capable of significant recovery but natural healing can take some time. Physiotherapy helps expedite the process. Some benefits include:
- Proper Healing. Some injuries might not heal correctly if left untreated. With the right treatment, your muscles, joints and tissues can regain their health.
- Scar Tissue Reduction. The buildup of scar tissue causes more pain and stiffens the skin. Through hands-on treatment, physiotherapy can help to prevent severe scarring.
- Balance Improvement. After injuries, your body might be thrown out of whack. Effective physiotherapy treatments can restore your body's balance.
- Muscle Spasm Control. Different methods such as shockwave and k-laser therapies can decrease spasms and alleviate pain.
At Grande Prairie Physiotherapy & Massage, we provide physiotherapy services to alleviate and eliminate aches, stiffness, and pains. To satisfy our clients, we employ the most up-to-date and effective therapies and approaches. Reach out to us to schedule an appointment today.










