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Backpacker Magazine – April 2008
Sprained Ankles: Watch Your Step
The latest health news reveals that ankle injuries are more common than you'd think. Here's some beta.
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Tags:
- Health & First Aid |
A sprained ankle is more likely to ruin your next hike than dehydration, hypothermia, or other often-feared medical problems, according to two studies recently published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. A three-year record of medical incidents on trips led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) concluded that more than half of all injuries primarily affected the knees and ankles. And a report analyzing a 10-year span of backcountry evacuations by Yosemite Search and Rescue arrived at a similar conclusion. The take-home lesson: While looking out for bears and snakes is smart, the most important thing you can do for safety is to watch your footing.
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READERS COMMENTS
I was rather hoping this article would give me some tips on avoiding sprains, not just tell me to avoid them; I already knew that! It's easy to say "watch your step", but when I'm looking for a trail marker or gazing at the herd of deer ahead of me that can be easier said than done.
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