Skiing, snowboarding and Nordic skiing are exciting and often intense endeavors. As a lifelong mountain enthusiast, I know that feeling of excitement and urgency heading out the door for a day on the slopes. I’ve actually gotten a speeding ticket or two on the way to my local mountain. Just couldn’t get to those first turns soon enough!
What most of us don’t consider is that those morning hours when we first arise our joints may be dry, stiff and more prone to injury. So, as an added measure of injury prevention it’s a great idea to warm up at least a little bit prior to that first chairlift ride.
An ounce of prevention…
At a bare minimum lube your joints first. It’s super simple and you can do it while brushing your teeth or drinking your morning brew. What you do is simply loosen your joints by putting them through their full range of motion. Whenever you put a joint through its physical range of motion a natural lubrication called synovial fluid enters that joint and protects it by nourishing the cartilage and keeping the joint stable.
How to lube your joints
Start with your lower body and move upward:
Stand on one leg and extend the other leg forward and circle your ankle three times to the right and then three times to the left. Go slowly and incorporate the full range of motion the joint allows. Next move upward to your knees (flex and extend), hips, wrists, elbows and shoulders, move each joint through its range of motion (and each direction) three times.
Get all lubed up before hitting the slopes and your joints will thank you!
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