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Prepare Yourself For Ski Season
Category: Knee Injuries
Dec 12, 2006
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Is there anything I could do before heading out to prevent injury?
Answer: Snow skiing and snowboarding are great ways to get active and burn some serious calories during the winter.
But the risks can be high if you do not protect yourself and have some common sense.
Everyday, three to four out of every 1,000 skiers sustains an injury.
The most important things to do if you are new to the sport are to get some lessons and to have the proper equipment.
All major snow parks have certified ski instructors who can assist you when you are on the mountain for the first time. Take your time and do not expect too much from yourself.
Also, if you are renting equipment, make sure that it is fitted properly and that you opt for the higher-end gear.
The newer the bindings, the better they are. Newer bindings allow for a release mechanism that will help prevent you from sustaining a knee injury in the even of a fall. A helmet might seem silly looking, but it could save your life if you get out of control.
The most common injury while skiing occurs to the MCL (medial collateral ligament) or ACL (anterior collateral ligament) of the knee.
MCL tears account for up to 25 percent of all skiing injuries. The MCL is a tight, thick band of tissue on the inner side of the knee and is sprained when the knee is bent or twisted abnormally.
New skiers can strain their MCL while "snowplowing," a technique used when first learning to ski. This can occur if your stance gets too wide or your skis cross.
Most experienced skiers can strain their MCL from catching an edge, which causes the knee to twist.
When the MCL is sprained, the knee can swell and become very sore. Initial treatment is RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), followed by immediate medical attention.
ACL tears account for up to 15 percent of all ski injuries. When you injure or tear your ACL, it usually is accompanied by a tear or injury to the MCL and lateral meniscus.
The ACL can be injured when the skier falls backward with their weight on the inside edge of their downhill ski and their uphill ski is in the air.
This causes the knee to twist and bend, forcing the tibia forward into the femur, rupturing the ACL.
A direct hit from behind by an out-of-control skier also can cause an ACL injury. One other way that the ACL can be injured is when landing a jump and the back of the ski hits first, forcing the ski boot into the calf.
Another common injury is to the thumb when the skier/snowboarder falls and puts down an outstretched hand.