Spring into Action – Prevent Warm Weather Orthopaedic Injuries

Anna Muzio, DO, orthopaedic surgeon, UPMC Orthopaedic Care

With the arrival of spring, activities like baseball, tennis, golf and gardening become part of our daily lives, in addition to responsibilities like lawn mowing and other home maintenance projects.

While it’s tempting to rush out into the warm weather and get started, make sure you’re following proper safety precautions to protect yourself during these activities.

Mow the lawn, not your hands

During the spring, orthopaedic and trauma surgeons see increased injuries to the hands, arms and other areas of the body due to unsafe practices when operating lawnmowers and other yard tools. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported more than 185,000 of these injuries in 2023.

Never stick your hands near the lawnmower blades or chute, even if the tool is powered off. Blades can still spin, even after a clog is cleared. To clear an obstruction, make sure the mower is powered off and use another object to clear blockages around the blade instead of your hands.

To protect yourself, always read the safety and operating instructions included with any new piece of yard equipment. Wear eye protection, gloves, and closed-toed shoes as a first line of defense.

Safety first for outdoor projects

Nearly 300,000 people visited an emergency room due to falls from ladders or stools in 2023. If you’re trimming trees, clearing gutters, or doing other tasks, make sure your ladder or stool is secured in place before climbing on – especially when using sharp objects like hedge trimmers. Ask a family member or neighbor to hold the ladder in place to reduce the risk of falling.

When working in the garden, avoid cuts, punctures and scrapes by wearing appropriate work gloves. Make sure your tools are sharpened, safely stored, and handled with care when in use. To prevent overuse injuries, stretch the fingers and hands after long periods of repetitive use. Immediately clean and disinfect any cuts obtained while gardening to prevent infections.

Common spring sports injuries

As spring sports ramp up, so does an increased incidence of sprained and strained wrists with activities like golf, tennis, baseball and softball. Tennis, golfer, and pitcher’s elbows occur when the tendons that attach muscle to the bone deteriorate from excessive throwing or swinging motions used in those sports.

These types of injuries may be named after sports, but they can happen anytime a tendon is overused or misused. Treatment for sprains and strains include rest, ice, compression, and elevation. But if you are still experiencing long-term discomfort, consult with a physician as physical therapy, surgery, or other pain management techniques may be needed.

Orthopaedic injuries vary in their location, severity and complexity. Go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing severe bleeding or pain or an open fracture such as a bone protruding through the skin. UPMC Orthopaedic Care has orthopaedic experts throughout the region. Walk-in orthopaedic injury clinics are available in Carlisle, Enola, Harrisburg and Lititz. Dr. Anna Muzio is an orthopaedic surgeon with UPMC Orthopaedic Care specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery.