Purpose: To provide primary care providers with current information about the risk of injury and trauma prevention measures for snowboarders.
Data sources: Selected research articles and Internet sources.
Conclusions: Beginners are at increased risk for snowboarding injuries. Lower extremity injuries have been reduced in recent years by the introduction of the hybrid boot for beginners. Little has been done to reduce the significant impact of head injuries and wrist fractures to snowboarders.
Implications for practice: Snowboarders comprise approximately 25%-37% of the population on ski slopes. Recommending the use of helmets and wrist guard protection to snowboarding patients is a useful trauma prevention measure. The high rate of injury to the beginner and young snowboarder makes a particularly strong argument for these safety recommendations to this patient population.