Roads and sidewalks getting icier this time of year leads to more work for physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Slips Trips Falls

Winter weather leads to busier times for physiotherapists

Dec 2, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Snow and ice are settling in for the next few months in Prince Albert and people are still getting used to the slippery conditions that come with it. Many people find out the hard way this time of year just how slippery the roads and sidewalks are.

In the early weeks of winter, visits to physiotherapists pick up as people come to them needing help with injuries suffered due to wintery weather. These could range from muscle injuries from shoveling too much snow to fractures and broken bones caused by a slip on ice.

“We definitely see an increase in the number of patients coming in with slip and fall related injuries,” said Christina Charles, a physical therapist with Freedom Physiotherapy in Prince Albert.

According to Charles, these injuries aren’t limited to the elderly, as her new patients range from kids to seniors. There are certain kinds of injuries that prove the most common in the early days of winter.

“We’re seeing more wrist and shoulder sprains, strains, and fractures,” Charles said. “As well at the hospital, they do see an increase in hip fractures due to slips and falls on ice.”

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Wrist and shoulder injuries are common, according to Charles, because people use their upper body to try and break their fall if they fall forward. Those with serious injuries don’t come straight to the clinic in every case, however, as many times they need time to heal before they’re even able to start rehabilitating.

“These types of injuries take anywhere from six to 12 weeks on average to heal,” Charles said. “A couple of weeks after the first snowfall is when we typically start to see people. Especially if they’ve had a fracture, typically they’re casted for six weeks so anywhere from that three to six weeks after the first snowfall, we start seeing more of those injuries.”

A little surefootedness might help prevent a fall, but it’s not the only way to avoid one, nor does being well balanced ensure you won’t slip on an unseen patch of ice. Still, there are some helpful tricks for getting through the winter without a damaging fall.

“I tell a lot of my patients to make sure they’re wearing appropriate footwear,” said Charles. “Clearing off their own personal sidewalks and steps are a big one, because that’s where a lot of falls happen. Then educating people to work on their balance, maintain lower extremity strength, and practices some weightbearing through upper extremities.”

Charles added in the winter her clinic also sees an increase in people coming in who need help to rehabilitate an injury caused by a car crash.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP