We’re heading into the most festive time of year, but it is also one of the most common times for new patients to visit because of a holiday related injury of pain. What makes the holidays so accident and injury prone? Travel to see family in colder climates, new and exciting gifts that require physical activity and even an increase in local activity make injuries more common during the holiday season.

Common Injuries During the Holiday Season

Holiday Travel

Travel itself isn’t likely to harm you, but if you travel to a colder climate and are not used to walking and driving on snow and ice, risk of injury is increased. Even people who live in these cold areas experience thousands of injuries each year from slipping and falling on snow and ice. Back, hip and knee injuries often result after a seasonal fall. Also, sitting for long periods of time can put strain on your back and cause pain or discomfort.

Holiday Gifts and Entertaining

The very gifts designed to delight kids and young teens can lead to a visit to an orthopedic specialist. Skates, bikes, scooters and even sports equipment could result in a lasting injury. Many of these are minor, but some leave behind lasting knee, back or limb pain that needs attention from a doctor to properly heal. Just pulling the turkey from the oven can lead to a burn that sends you to the emergency room for treatment.

Shopping

It’s not the shopping itself, but rather the increase in traffic and activity around shopping destinations that increases the risk of auto accidents and collisions. If you are involved in an accident, you could face a lengthy recovery.

Contact A Specialist

Almost all the holiday related issues are injuries from falls; whether you slip on an unexpected patch of ice or you fall off your new bicycle, you could need help from a specialist. If you have been injured and the pain is simply not going away, contact us for help. Our team of orthopedic specialists is waiting to help when you need us most.