This time of year, it’s crazy to think that there is a huge rise in Thanksgiving related injuries. Weird, huh? For example, in the US, emergency departments see between 12,000-15,000 injuries related holidays or holiday decorating. Most are falls from ladders, lacerations from cooking, or back strains like when you pull that table leaf out from the garage and it’s a smidge heavier than you thought. At Optim Orthopedics, we want you to be safe during the holidays so we compiled this list of common activities to be more mindful of this Thanksgiving season.
Should you find yourself on the wrong end of one of these situations this season, we got you covered. Either fire up OptimNOW to chat with a real life orthopedic provider to go over your options, or schedule an appointment if you can avoid a visit to the ER.
Our clinics and ortho urgent care will be closed on Thanksgiving day. All clinic locations will be closed on Friday but Savannah Urgent care will be back open on Friday from 9am-1pm. Sat & Sun 9am-1pm.
BAKYARD TURKEY BOWL
One of the best things to do before or after a Thanksgiving meal, is tossing the “rock” and playing a pickup game of backyard football. Most of us are not as young as we used to be, so this matchup is prime time for injury. Each year, over 1,400 Americans 25+ went to the ER on Thanksgiving for football injuries. Most of these are sprains, strains, contusions, dislocations and even fractures.
We’re not saying don’t play, but be careful. Here’s some tips:
How to avoid it:
- Stretch: Especially after sitting for a long time watching the game, take 10min to stretch to you don’t pull a hamstring or worse. Don’t cheat the stretch. Hold each position for 30 seconds to get those muscles and tendons loose.
- Warm up: If you can, jog a bit to get the blood flowing. Like starting a diesel engine on a cold day, gotta warm up the engine before it turns over. Your body is similar. You don’t want to drop back and scramble from a cold start.
- Take it easy: Our bodies aren’t what they used to be. The days of bouncing back up from a smack are long gone. Now, we have to focus on maintaining our muscles and joints for the long haul. Listen to your body. Don’t push it too far, no matter what the Gen-Z are goading you about. Beat ‘em with wisdom instead of brawn.
Turkey Carving Hand Trauma
During Thanksgiving, the #2 ER visit are cuts to the hand area likely due to carving or meal prep. Most orthopedic centers report a clear Thanksgiving spike in carving mishaps. They can be commonly tied to distractions or alcohol. Most injuries of these injuries include:
Flexor or extensor tendon damage
Nerve injury affecting finger sensation
Finger-tip amputations
Lacerations requiring surgical repair
Most carving injuries happen when the turkey is slippery, people rush through slicing, or a dull knife forces too much pressure.
How to avoid it:
- Use a sharp carving knife, stabilize the turkey with a carving fork,
- carve on a flat surface,
- and never carve while distracted (or after that second glass of wine).
Should anything like this happen, take a breath and keep calm. Find a clean towel or cloth to cover the would and apply pressure to reduce the bleeding. If it’s bad, head to the nearest open urgent care, if you can manage to travel safely. If you don’t know how bad it is, launch OptimNOW to ask a provider what options are available.
DECORATING DISASTORS
Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday decorating season, and with it comes a surge in injuries. After the food daze it’s usually time to setup for Thanksgiving. All the stores have had their displays for weeks, now it’s our turn to celebrate the season. But, this time usually brings unexpected injuries from:
Ladder falls while hanging lights
Slips on wet leaves or steps
Carrying heavy dishes or luggage
Cluttered walkways in busy homes
National injury-surveillance data shows 12,000–15,000 ER visits each year from holiday decorating mishaps—many of which result in wrist fractures, ankle injuries, and back strains.
How to avoid it:
Use step stools, not chairs;
keep walkways clear;
wear supportive shoes;
and ask for help when carrying heavy or awkward dishes, Christmas trees from the attic, or large decorations.
OVERUSE & TRAVEL INJURIES
Thanksgiving involves more bending, lifting, twisting, and cooking than most people do on an average day. It also involves long drives and even longer hours on your feet.
We regularly treat:
Lower back strains from lifting turkeys, coolers, or luggage
Neck pain after long car rides
Elbow and wrist overuse injuries from marathon cooking sessions
Foot and ankle pain after hosting all day on hard floors
How to avoid it:
Lift with your legs,
take breaks while cooking,
use supportive footwear,
and stretch after long trips.
WHEN SHOULD YOU…
You should contact an orthopedic specialist if you experience:
Inability to bear weight
Loss of motion in a joint
Visible deformity or swelling that worsens
Numbness or tingling after a cut
Severe pain that doesn’t improve with rest and ice
GET HELP FAST
Orthopedic injuries don’t wait for Monday. OptimNOW, powered by HURT, gives you 24/7 access to an orthopedic provider from your phone, tablet, or laptop—even on holidays.
Use OptimNOW if you experience:
A painful sprain or strain
A swollen joint
Back or neck pain
A minor fall or sports injury
A cut requiring orthopedic guidance before an in-person visit