5 Skiing/Snowboarding Tips for your Leg and Foot Health

Maybe you are a snowboarder or skier: you slide downhill at breakneck speed over fresh snow under a clear, blue sky! Is there anything to beat that exhilarating adrenaline-pumping moment?

However, if you want to enjoy your favorite sport to the fullest, the safest way, you have to keep your legs and feet strong and healthy to avoid stress and more importantly injuries. Here are five tips that would help you achieve it.

Image courtesy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-snowboarding-during-daytime-209817/

1 Choosing the right boots

Every foot is unique: you need to find boots for skiing or snowboarding that offer you the perfect fit. If you are unsure about which boot is the ideal match for your ability and your feet, seek advice from a technician who is familiar with such things.

Every foot is unique: you need to find boots for skiing or snowboarding that offer you the perfect fit. If you are unsure about which boot is the ideal match for your ability and your feet, seek advice from a technician who is familiar with such things.

2 Using appropriate equipment

For the sake of saving a few dollars, do not continue to use your old boots or equipment for another year; do not hesitate to buy appropriate new boots, boards, bindings etc. Remember – using faulty/worn out equipment can cause discomfort and may even trigger injuries, thus robbing you of the pleasure of snowboarding or skiing. It would be better to rent modern updated versions than risk your leg and foot health by using the outdated gear.

3 Warming up properly

In your rush to slide down that steepest slope or catch the first lift to the mountain’s apex, you may often neglect the warm-up run. It’s necessary for your legs, feet, quads and hips, to warm up properly; it would boost blood flow, stretch your muscles, and make them ready for action. You will thus be able to find the ideal rhythm to enjoy skiing or snowboarding to the fullest.

4 Taking precautions to avoid frostbite

Frostbite is an injury caused when your body tissues and skin become exposed to extreme cold and begin to freeze. Perhaps you are unaware that even when your feet and toes are well covered in socks, they can suffer frostbite.

Whether you are a skier or snowboarder, the best way to steer clear of frostbite is to avoid staying outdoors for long periods, especially when you notice that the weather is bitingly cold. Additionally, you should always wear proper socks and other necessary clothing to beat the chill. It’s equally important to ensure that your boots and socks aren’t so excessively tight that blood circulation is restricted.

5 Following posted signage and official trails

You should never ever take risks that you will regret later for example, going off the beaten path, especially when you are alone, or going out of patrolled areas. It’s always wise to follow posted signage and orders of mountain/resort patrollers. Skiers or snowboarders in these areas will be safe in the hands of mountain patrollers in case of emergencies.

Let not foot and leg injuries deter you from enjoying this skiing and snowboarding season. Remember these tips to make the most of your favorite activity.

5 Simple Leg and Foot Exercises for Desk Workers

Staying shackled to your desk for a better part of your workday is indeed bad for your health. It’s tough to give your body the necessary exercise it needs, if you don’t have a company gym membership, or can’t go to fitness classes in the morning or evening. Your leg and gluteal muscles go unused for long hours every day, if you are a desk worker, glued to your chair.

Image courtesy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/marketing-woman-office-working-36990/

As a result, they become tight, weakened and even atrophied over a period. You can end up suffering from one or more of several leg and foot issues – from decreased hip mobility, weak bones, poor circulation in legs (causing blood clots, swelling in ankles, varicose veins, etc.) to problems with stability and poor power of your stride when you jump or walk (due to restricted range of motion of the leg muscles).

However, the happy news is that with a few proven and easy legs and foot exercises, you can ward off many of these problems prevalent among desk workers. Top five such exercises are listed below for your benefit.

          1.  Get up and walk: Stand up and walk every 20-30 minutes – to bring a glass of water, share some office info with a colleague, or simply file a paper. This will bring the otherwise unused leg muscles into use and improve blood circulation. Even when you can’t walk around the office frequently, take a break to stand up and simply stretch your legs and feet for a few minutes.

         2.  Spot jogging: Find an empty stairwell or conference room and jog in place for 60 seconds, bringing your knees as high up as possible. Take rest for 30 seconds and follow it up with a repeat to give your static legs some welcome and beneficial action.

       3.Leg extensions: Simple exercises would be to extend your left leg in front, hold for ten seconds, lower it down and stop short of touching the floor; hold the position again for 10 seconds. After doing 15 reps, you should switch legs and repeat the same workout with your right leg.

        4. Circling the feet: Raise your left foot slightly from the ground, and make circling movements  – five times clockwise, and five times anticlockwise. Bring your left foot to rest and repeat the exercise with your right foot.

       5  One-legged squat: With the support of a desk or wall, balance your weight on your left leg with the right leg extended straight in front, as high as possible. Next, squat down as far as you can. Hold the position for ten counts, come back to the normal position and repeat after switching legs. 

If you are interested in more exercises, you may even walk up and down a flight of stairs once or twice flexing and extending the toes and feet. Even with a desk job, therefore, you can care for your leg and foot health by following a simple workout routine as outlined above.