If you’re hitting the slopes soon, there are several strategies you need to remember to avoid ruining your season. Dr. Cory Edgar, orthopaedic surgeon at the UConn Health Center, tells NBC Connecticut that proper preparation is key to preventing injuries. Be sure you’re in good physical condition and know when to stop if you’re tired or in pain. Since cold muscles are more prone to injury, warming up is important. And always stay hydrated since even mild levels of dehydration can affect physical ability and endurance.

Other Tips to Avoiding Injury:

• Stay forward. Your instinct, when you get going too fast, is to lean back. This only makes you go faster. Work on keeping your weight forward on your skis and your snowboard.
• When you start to fall, just go with it. The more rigid you are, the more likely you’ll be hurt when you fall.
• Wear a helmet. Helmets do not decrease the risk of skiing- or snowboarding-related head injuries, but they do reduce the severity.

Follow the UConn Health Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.