SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Snowboarding is the fastest-growing winter sport in the United States. More than 3.4 million Americans snowboard, and they account for 20 percent of visitors to American ski resorts.
However, like many other fun, popular sports, snowboarding does have certain risks. To minimize those dangers, the Medical College of Wisconsin offers some safety advice.
Beginning snowboarders are most at risk of injury, even though they don't try the kind of difficult maneuvers done by advanced boarders. Nearly 25 percent of injuries occur during a snowboarder's first experience, and nearly half of injuries happen in the first season of snowboarding.
The upper extremities and ankles are most likely to be injured while snowboarding, compared to the knees in downhill skiing. Wrist injuries account for about 23 percent of snowboarding injuries, ankle injuries account for 16.7 percent, and knee injuries, 16.3 percent. Other snowboard injuries include: head injuries, 9.2 percent; shoulder injuries, 8.3 percent; trunk injuries, 7.8 percent; and elbow injuries, 4.4 percent.
Wrist fractures account for about half of all snowboarding fractures. About half of all snowboarding ankle injuries are fractures.
Life-threatening snowboarding accidents are rare and most often involve collisions with trees.
Here are some tips on how to prevent snowboarding injuries:
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Here's more about snowboarding safety.