Ski Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Skiing can be a pleasurable and exhilarating winter sport. But as with any sport, it can result in injuries affecting various parts of the body. In fact, studies have found the rate of injury to be approximately one injury for every 1,000 ski days.

The knee is the most frequently injured joint, accounting for approximately one in every four ski injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament--ligaments that connect your thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia) within your knee joint--are the most often injured components of the knee. The cartilage pads that serve as shock absorbers within the meniscus of the knee joint are frequently impacted as well.

Knee injuries are common during skiing due to the nature of the sport. They typically occur as a result of a ski catching an unanticipated edge. If the binding that secures your ski to your ski boot fails to release, your body weight and speed generate a significant amount of energy at the tip of your ski. The length of your ski then acts as a lever, forcing your knee to twist, resulting in potential bone and ligament damage.

Back injuries are also a frequent occurrence in the sport. Spinal fractures can develop following a crash as a result of flexion/hyperextension, similar to whiplash, or compression. Muscle injuries can occur due to attempted heavy lifting (such as assisting a buddy to their feet) or the frequent jarring associated with uneven skiing terrain.

When you fall, the instinct to extend your arms puts your wrists in danger of harm. They are frequently the first part of the body to receive impact from a fall. It's common to get "skier's thumb" if you fall and land on your hands while still gripping your ski pole with its strap, resulting in the thumb being sprained or dislocated.

Additionally, the impact of the fall goes through the arms, resulting in shoulder damage. This might range from a sprained shoulder to a dislocated shoulder or bone fracture. A broken collarbone, or clavicle, is another common fall-related injury.

Skiing also carries a danger of severe head, face, and neck injuries. Whiplash and concussion are two common head injuries. Compared to cycling helmets, using a specialized ski helmet dramatically minimizes your risk of significant head and brain injury.

While accidents may occur, there are actions you can take to avoid many of these mountain mishaps. Skiing is a physically demanding sport, and maintaining a healthy fitness level is critical for minimizing injury risk. Exercises that train your body and core muscles can help prevent injury.

If you are new to skiing or haven't skied in a few seasons, enroll in professional ski instruction. Even seasoned skiers can benefit from instruction. Instructors may assist you with your confidence and skill and teach you how to fall correctly to minimize the danger of harm.

As with any activity, physically pushing yourself while your muscles are cold or stiff can result in damage. Starting your day with slower runs is a good idea, regardless of your level of experience.

If you are renting ski equipment, ensure that it fits properly and that your skis are the appropriate length for your height, ability level, and intended skiing area. Never rent skis, snowboards, or poles from a shop that does not correctly measure you for this equipment.

Three Women and One Work, Who Was Fur Elise Written for?

According to several sources, Ludwig Von Beethoven’s Fur Elise: Bagatelle in A Minor WoO 59 is not only one of his more recognizable pieces but has also become one of the most taught and played piano pieces of all time. Beethoven labeled the piece a bagatelle, which means a thing of little importance. The piece is described as a rondo with an A-B-A-C-A structure, or the first section (theme A) is repeated within other sections (themes B and C).

Described as both whimsical and melancholy, Fur Elise has held the interest of music enthusiasts and scholars for other reasons, namely the person for which the work was written. At 40, when it was written, Beethoven’s hearing had worsened. He had also stopped performing live altogether at the time. After writing the piece in 1810 as a small piano piece, he shoved it into a drawer in 1822. Forty years after his passing in 1827, another Ludwig, Ludwig Nohl, found Beethoven’s Fur Elise and published it. Fur Elise’s lasting effect is because it is a simple piece easily taught to intermediate students while at the same time a melodic one leaving the listener with a sense of nostalgia.

The only reason the public knows that the song was about another person was that Beethoven scribbled the name on the composition, according to Nohl’s accounts. The many possible inspirations for this song have been reduced to three of the composer’s many female interests.

Previous to writing the composition, Beethoven befriended Elisabeth Rockel, an opera singer. There is no conclusive evidence that this person went by Elise, even though it might seem plausible. The affair was ended after Rockel married one of Beethoven’s rivals Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

One possibility explains the piece’s origins as a misunderstanding Nohl had upon reading the notes on the piece. Instead of writing Fur Elise, Beethoven wrote Fur Therese or Therese Malfatti. Malfatti was one of his students, one who he fell madly in love with to the point that he cleaned up his act to impress.

Malfatti was the daughter of a medical doctor who purportedly not only flirted with classical composer, but some say she instigated the whole affair. However, their affair did not last because of an incident caused when Beethoven had a little too much punch and became rude while visiting the Malfatti home. According to historical accounts, he actually proposed marriage to her, but she either outright rejected him or did so some time afterward.

Finally, the last possible woman for whom the piece might be written was Elisabet Barensfeld, a prodigy and possibly a student of Therese Malfatti. Barensfeld was often called Elise, and many think that Beethoven wrote it as a favor to Malfatti.

Of the three women, many scholars believe that Malfatti was most likely the person for which Beethoven wrote the piece. They did not think this because the two seemed to have the closest relationship with the three by historical accounts. Still, they surmised Malfatti was the inspiration for the piece because she owned the original composition until her passing.

History and scholars might never know the truth of for whom this piece was written. For those playing the song on the piano or listening to it, though, one can only imagine the pain, longing, and sentiment Beethoven felt while composing the music, note for note.

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Architecture Conquers Three Principles

Since the first megaliths were erected to honor the gods of ancient civilizations, buildings have been defined by three overriding principles. Not until Ancient Roman civilization would architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio actually spell out that all buildings had some components of beauty, function, and durability. As the past has moved into the present, these principles remain true, except the definitions of what is beautiful, functional, and durable have changed. Around the world, there are a number of examples of buildings whose innovation not only expresses these principles but also focus on being sustainable and disaster-resistant.

One concept has defined modern innovative architecture: sustainability. In Los Angeles, The Broad, designed by architects at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, exhibits the use of material that controls light. The 50,000 square foot museum’s exterior is made from porous material that allows visitors to view the works inside free from outside distractions while at the same time attracting pedestrians on the street to the museum by giving them an interesting peek inside through the exterior.

Acting as a two-way veil, the walls control the amount of light that enters. While no direct sunlight enters the museum, the structure absorbs light, redirecting it as needed throughout the space.

Another museum that relies on sustainability is Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilmarmonie Hamburg located in Hamburg, Germany. The building reuse project features a former warehouse constructed in 1963. The warehouse forms the foundation, and the upper portion constructed using glass appears more like a spaceship instead of house for musical performances.

Apple Park, which is located in Cupertino, California and designed by Foster + Partners, is considered Apple’s latest crowning achievement in architecture because the boundary between the building and nature converge smoothly. The building incorporates a sustainable energy platform, as part of the ring-shaped structure contains solar panels. It houses a ventilation system within a canopy between floors that allows the building to breathe while protecting employees from the heat. Not a fan of air conditioning, Steve Jobs wanted a ventilation system that would funnel natural air in and out of the building.

Modern architecture has also emphasized the need to build disaster-resistant structures, such as the Shanghai Tower located in Shanghai, China. The building boasts a few superlatives, including being the tallest building in China and second tallest in the world. The building stands 2,073 feet tall and is capable of withstanding typhoon force winds commonly found in the city.

The high seismic activity zone of Washington Island is home to Tsunami House. Created by Designs Northwest Architects, the building uses durable, low maintenance material with exposed concrete columns, galvanized standing seam panels, and aluminum windows. Resistant to earthquake and tsunami activity, its main living space sits several feet above the ground, and its lower level acts as a flood room.

Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral was reconstructed after withstanding a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand. In its newer incarnation, the cathedral is made from eight shipping containers which form the walls, a roof made from polycarbonate, and a concrete floor. The cathedral is comprised of 98 paper tubes and rises 24 meters.

Following an earthquake in Thailand, Bangkok-based Vin Varavarn Architects reconstructed the Post-Disaster School, one of 73 schools the earthquake destroyed. Elevated above ground and set in the middle of trees, the steel structure is not entirely enclosed, allowing for the children to learn in a beautiful, natural environment.

Architecture Conquers Three Main Principles

Since the first megaliths were erected to honor the gods of ancient civilizations, buildings have been defined by three overriding principles. Not until Ancient Roman civilization would architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio actually spell out that all buildings had some components of beauty, function, and durability. As the past has moved into the present, these principles remain true, except the definitions of what is beautiful, functional, and durable have changed. Around the world, there are a number of examples of buildings whose innovation not only expresses these principles but also focus on being sustainable and disaster-resistant.

One concept has defined modern innovative architecture: sustainability. In Los Angeles, The Broad, designed by architects at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, exhibits the use of material that controls light. The 50,000 square foot museum’s exterior is made from porous material that allows visitors to view the works inside free from outside distractions while at the same time attracting pedestrians on the street to the museum by giving them an interesting peek inside through the exterior.

Acting as a two-way veil, the walls control the amount of light that enters. While no direct sunlight enters the museum, the structure absorbs light, redirecting it as needed throughout the space.

Another museum that relies on sustainability is Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilmarmonie Hamburg located in Hamburg, Germany. The building reuse project features a former warehouse constructed in 1963. The warehouse forms the foundation, and the upper portion constructed using glass appears more like a spaceship instead of house for musical performances.

Apple Park, which is located in Cupertino, California and designed by Foster + Partners, is considered Apple’s latest crowning achievement in architecture because the boundary between the building and nature converge smoothly. The building incorporates a sustainable energy platform, as part of the ring-shaped structure contains solar panels. It houses a ventilation system within a canopy between floors that allows the building to breathe while protecting employees from the heat. Not a fan of air conditioning, Steve Jobs wanted a ventilation system that would funnel natural air in and out of the building.

Modern architecture has also emphasized the need to build disaster-resistant structures, such as the Shanghai Tower located in Shanghai, China. The building boasts a few superlatives, including being the tallest building in China and second tallest in the world. The building stands 2,073 feet tall and is capable of withstanding typhoon force winds commonly found in the city.

The high seismic activity zone of Washington Island is home to Tsunami House. Created by Designs Northwest Architects, the building uses durable, low maintenance material with exposed concrete columns, galvanized standing seam panels, and aluminum windows. Resistant to earthquake and tsunami activity, its main living space sits several feet above the ground, and its lower level acts as a flood room.

Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral was reconstructed after withstanding a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand. In its newer incarnation, the cathedral is made from eight shipping containers which form the walls, a roof made from polycarbonate, and a concrete floor. The cathedral is comprised of 98 paper tubes and rises 24 meters.

Following an earthquake in Thailand, Bangkok-based Vin Varavarn Architects reconstructed the Post-Disaster School, one of 73 schools the earthquake destroyed. Elevated above ground and set in the middle of trees, the steel structure is not entirely enclosed, allowing for the children to learn in a beautiful, natural environment.