Winter sports season keeps athletes active — and it keeps orthopedic specialists busy.

According to Dr. Brett Owens, Chief of the Sports Medicine Center at University Orthopedics, winter brings a predictable rise in sports-related injuries across youth, high school, collegiate, and recreational athletes. From indoor court sports to outdoor winter activities, understanding common risks — and how to reduce them — can help athletes stay safer all season long.

Common Winter Sports Injuries by Activity

Each winter sport carries its own injury patterns based on movement, surface, and contact level.

Hockey, a high-speed collision sport, often leads to:

• Shoulder separations and dislocations
• Other upper extremity injuries
• Lower extremity injuries from contact or awkward falls

Basketball, played on high-friction indoor courts, is associated with:

• ACL injuries
• Non-contact knee injuries related to cutting and pivoting movements

As ski season begins, Dr. Owens notes a clear difference between sports:

• Skiers most commonly sustain knee injuries, particularly ACL tears
• Snowboarders tend to experience more upper extremity injuries, including shoulder dislocations, wrist fractures, and occasionally concussions

Why Some Injuries Are Hard to Prevent

Not all sports injuries are avoidable. Dr. Owens explains that injury risk is influenced by multiple factors, including:

• Contact and collisions
• Genetics
• Landing mechanics
• Hormonal factors
• Fatigue

“Even non-contact injuries can’t always be predicted,” he says. “But our goal is to do everything we can to prepare athletes and minimize risk whenever possible.”

Fatigue Plays a Major Role

One consistent pattern Dr. Owens sees is an increase in injuries:

• Toward the end of a season
• Late in games or practices
• During the last run of the day while skiing or snowboarding

Fatigue affects reaction time, coordination, and decision-making — all of which increase injury risk. If conditions are deteriorating or an athlete feels worn down, Dr. Owens advises calling it a day early.

Don’t Ignore Nagging Injuries

Overuse and nagging injuries are common during long winter seasons, especially in high school sports where rest days are limited.

At University Orthopedics, the sports medicine team frequently helps athletes and parents:

• Evaluate lingering pain
• Develop a realistic rest and recovery plan
• Balance competition demands with long-term health

Sometimes, Dr. Owens admits, physicians have to play the “bad guy” — reinforcing the importance of rest and recovery to prevent more serious injuries.

The Importance of Warm-Ups and Injury Prevention

Formal injury-prevention programs are more common at higher levels of competition, but they’re harder to implement consistently in youth sports.

Dr. Owens’ key recommendation:

“At a minimum, every team should have a structured warm-up program.”

Even simple, consistent warm-ups can improve movement patterns, reduce injury risk, and prepare athletes physically and mentally for play.

Winter Safety Beyond Organized Sports

Dr. Owens also emphasizes general winter safety for recreational activities:

• Never skate or walk on ponds or lakes unless ice safety has been confirmed
• Wear helmets or head protection when skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or skating
• Head protection helps reduce the risk of concussion and other serious injuries

Keeping Athletes Healthy All Winter Long

Winter sports offer incredible benefits — physical fitness, teamwork, and enjoyment — but they also come with injury risks. Preparation, awareness, proper rest, and safety equipment go a long way in keeping athletes on the field, court, slope, or rink.

University Orthopedics’ Sports Medicine team is dedicated to helping athletes of all ages stay healthy, recover safely, and return to the activities they love.