Winter Sports Challenges and Tips
By Coleen Lou

Have you and your family decided to be healthier, more active or get into shape this year?  If so, there is no time like the present to get that fitness program started!  However, exercising, or just being active in the cold winter weather has its own set of special challenges and safety issues to overcome.  Of course, you should always check with a physician before beginning any exercise program.

Luckily for us we have the renowned Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, to keep us abreast of all the latest and up to date information from some of the finest professionals around.  Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of the country’s largest and most respected pediatric healthcare systems.

In fact, two years ago the sports medicine program at Children's began to deliver medical care to figure skating's elite amateur athletes and became the Official Healthcare Provider for the 2004 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships,  the nation's most prestigious figure skating event.  It was held in Atlanta at Philips Arena and The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Below you will find the latest winter sports tips provided by David Marshall, M.D., the Director of the Sports Medicine Program at Children's:

Winter Sports Tips

• Wear layered clothing.
• When exercising in cold weather, layer clothes to keep your body warm. Layers allow you to add or remove clothing as your body temperature changes.
• Wear a hat. You can lose up to 40 percent of body heat through the neck and head.
• Wear sunscreen to protect skin from overexposure to the sun.
• Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses when exercising in the snow on a bright, sunny day.
• Warm up and cool down. It is very easy to pull a muscle during cold months.
• Remember to warm up before any activity, cool down and stretch afterwards.
• Wear proper footwear to keep feet warm and dry.
• Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth to prevent cold air from aggravating asthma attacks.
• Buddy up. Always exercise with a friend.
• When running or jogging alongside a road, wear bright reflective clothing. Be extra cautious of motor vehicles as they can lose control when the roads are wet or icy.
• Keep clothes dry to prevent heat loss.
• Drink enough fluids. While hot refreshments may warm the body after being outside in the cold, cooler liquids (40 – 50° F) are actually absorbed faster by the body than warmer drinks.

And thanks to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
for all the wonderful work they do for
Georgia’s children all year long!

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