Snow has fallen in some parts of Minnesota, and soon the whole state will be covered in white. Wintertime gives us the chance to dust off our ski boots and ice skates, but also presents our bodies with extra challenges. The winter season can be especially challenging if you are at risk or have previously suffered a hernia. Today, we take a look at four winter activities that can lead to the development of a hernia.
Snowboarding or Skiing
This is one of the most common winter activities that can lead to hernia development. The reasons being are rather simple, as both the natural actions during activity and the way a person would fall during activity typically stress your abdominal muscles and your groin. For example, when snowboarding, your core muscles help shift your balance and guide your legs and the board. Same goes for when you’re turning on skis. Also, when you fall, since your legs are strapped into boots, your leg from the knee down generally remains rigid during the fall, and this can channel the stress to the nearest area that can twist and turn, which is your hips, abs and groin. Take it easy when hitting the slopes this winter, and build you way up to more experienced paths so as not to overstress your muscles at the outset.
Ice Skating
Similar to skiing, ice skating is another activity that relies on a strong core. Your abdominal muscles are tested as you twist, turn, and potentially jump and pivot on skates. If your try movements that are too strenuous, you may overstress your core or groin and a structure can burst through that muscular wall. Just like the above point, ease your way back onto the ice this winter, and take time to stretch before you hit the ice so movement of certain muscle groups doesn’t come as a shock to your body when you’re on the ice.
Snow Removal
Although shoveling is generally more taxing on our spine than on our core, we’ve talked to plenty of patients who have suffered a hernia while removing snow from their driveway. Whether this occurs when you’re yanking on the starter cord of your snowblower or while throwing that shovel full of snow off the driveway, it’s important to be aware of your body movements when removing snow. Similar to the above point, take time to stretch and warm up your body before heading out in the cold to shovel, and don’t try to remove too much snow with one scoop. The more snow you get with each scoop, the heavier it will be, and moving heavy amounts while twisting and turning can be a recipe for hernias.
Walking On Ice
Ice and slippery patches on the ground can lead to slip and falls, which can lead to a hernia. As we mentioned above, a hernia usually occurs during either an instantaneous moment of overstress, or with repeated stress over a long period of time. Instantaneous actions overstress the muscle tissue in a quick moment, and oftentimes this occurs when a person sneezes as your core muscles tense and flex. A similar action occurs when you slip on ice. The moment that you lose your balance, your core flexes and strains to keep you upright. That momentary slip can cause an instantaneous reaction from our muscle groups, and if you’ve had a previous surgery or your muscle tissue is weak in an area, a structure can burst through that wall without warning. It’s hard to prevent slips on the ice, but take your time when walking this winter and find a pair of shoes that help grip the ice with each step!
