It’s never too late to set your goals for a healthier, happier new year – even in February!
Most of us start off January with the very best of intentions but how long does it last? As usual, I have made many resolutions – all the familiar ones, from eating more healthily, drinking less and exercising more. I normally last a month.
However, as I get older, I guess I am drinking less, going to the gym more regularly and even my golf is coming along. This time last year, I took up the guitar and I’m still going with that.
I have even managed to learn ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran… my family are sick of hearing it but I love it, mainly because I can’t believe I can actually play something recognisable! Thanks to my teacher, Francisco, for all the lessons.
Having three young children forces me to go to bed early, because they are guaranteed to run into our bedroom every morning at 7am, no matter what we have done the day before. Which leads me nicely to Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s four pillars of health that I reckon we should all consider. The popular physician, TV broadcaster and author recommends a focus on relaxation, food, movement and sleep.
We can’t be perfect all of the time and I would argue that we shouldn’t even try, because we would become boring. However, in this busy, hectic and stressful world that we often find ourselves in, I would urge you all to consider improving in these four key areas of your life.
Try different methods to reduce your stress, eat healthily where you can, make sure you exercise properly – even regular walking outside in the fresh air has huge benefits. Think about your sleep routine… read a book before bed instead of your phone and try to settle down at the same time each night, to allow your body to find a rhythm.
Anyway, enough preaching from me – let’s talk about something that’s far more fun… now is the time to think about the skiing season. I’m actually writing this the day before I join the British Chiropractic Association ski trip to Chamonix in France.
It’s been an anxious wait this year as the snow conditions have been awful, but fingers crossed, on the day we arrive a good foot of snow is forecast. So 35 chiropractors should be busy skiing instead of moaning at me for not predicting that global warming would hit during the week we go away for our annual break.
We are ready to hear two of the greatest sports chiropractors in the world lecturing us each evening after we finish skiing. There’s nothing like coming off the slopes, having a beer with friends and learning from the best.
Apart from the obvious positives, we all know that skiing can be a hazardous occupation. Take a look at the five most common injuries from people who take part:
- Head injuries
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) or knee sprains
- Anterior cruciate ligament (also knee) sprains
- Wrist injuries
- Shoulder injuries
I was slightly surprised to see head injuries at number one but a lot of the research was based on downhill race skiers – and they definitely rattle their brain when they crash! Now MCL injuries, we certainly see plenty of those with regular skiers, as patients twist their knees when they fall on and off the slopes.
In essence, it’s the same injury that we treat footballers for when they get tackled, then strain and twist their knees. I know how painful it can be as I suffered an MCL injury on the first day of a trip a few years ago, when I was skiing too fast down a black run.
A serious MCL injury will take 6-8 weeks to heal and it’s so important to get it right. Treatment varies as the ligament gradually gets better. In general, this might consist of rehab, laser work and instrument-assisted therapy – this features a special metal tool to manually stimulate the ligament and break down the scar tissue that forms in the wrong place.
Treatments typically take place once a week and then ‘voilà’! – the pain has gone and the knee is as good as new. Of course, the best way to avoid skiing injuries is to get fit before you go. Make sure you are exercising your legs for a couple of months if possible.
My favourite skiing prep is going to HIIT classes at the gym. Failing this, try regular squats, running up and down stairs, or going on your bike.
Let’s hope I’ve managed to get it just right…
Photo by Maarten Duineveld on Unsplash
