r1D In-Line Skating
Needs Protection

\

ON THE ROAD To GOOD HEALTH,

ALISON ASHTON

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

In-line skaters who outfit them-
selves with wrist guards may not
be getting as much protection as
they think. The guards can help
protect against scrapes and abra-
sions, but more serious injuries,
such as fractures, can still occur,
according to Dr. Frank B. Giaco-
betti, an orthopedic resident at
Thomas Jefferson University in
Philadelphia.

Learn the
basics of the sport,
including
how to
stop properly.

IT'S ALWAYS WISE

WHO KNOW THE WAY.

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No one is more qualified as a guide to healthy

living than a primary care physician. And by

Using cadaver arms and a spe-
cial hydraulic testing apparatus
to simulate the pressure that oc-
curs when a skater falls on an
outstretched arm, Dr. Giacobet-
ti and his colleagues "found no
significant difference in the types
of fractures sustained in the arms
with or without the wrist
guards."
In-line skating is one of the
fastest-growing recreational
sports, and it led to 76,116 emer-
gency-room visits in 1994.
Although Dr. Giacobetti hopes
these findings will encourage
manufacturers to produce more
protective gear, he says there are
still steps skaters can take to pro-
tect themselves:
Learn the basics of the sport,
including how to stop properly.
Continue to wear protective
gear.
When you feel you are going to
fall, try to land on your right or
left side instead of breaking the
fall with an outstretched hand.
Do warm-up and cool-down ex-
ercises before and after skating.
Avoid skating on crowded
walkways, obey traffic signals,
stay on the right side of the road,
and do not weave in and out.

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