[Snow-boarding injuries can be prevented]

The last four winter seasons have witnessed a dramatic increase in the popularity of snowboarding. A series of snowboarding injuries treated at University Hospital, Umeå, predominantly consisted of those sustained by teenage boys, often when jumping or losing balance for other reasons. The upper extremities were the most common sites of injury, 2/3 of these injuries being fractures. The commonest type of lower extremity injury was sprain, and 2/3 of lower extremity injuries affected the foremost leg. To prevent injuries, it is recommended that snowboard bindings should be modified by the introduction of some sort of release mechanism, and enthusiasts should be urged to attend a training course, to use soft-shell footwear and to wear gloves with reinforcement protecting the hand and wrist.