Skiing

Skiing is one of the most dangerous winter sports and contributes to the worst accidents every year. Most common skiing injuries are lower extremity injuries such as fractures, anterior cruciate or collateral ligament injury, meniscus tears. Other injuries include shoulder injuries, wrist and hand injuries, spinal injuries and concussions. Shoulder injuries include fracture, dislocation and rotator cuff tendinitis. Hand injuries include finger fractures, wrist sprain and Skier’s thumb. Back injuries include low back pain and herniated disks.

Tearing of collateral ligament tears in the knee, such as anterior cruciate ligament tear (ACL) and medial collateral ligament tear (MCL) are the most common injuries in skiing. Incorrect landing from a jump or using poor technique and form while skiing contributes to most knee injuries. Usually ACL tear is caused when the skier tries to stand up in order to prevent an unavoidable fall. This is called the ‘phandom foot’ phenomenon. Skiers should avoid this position and instead go with the momentum. To prevent an ACL tear while skiing, we recommend wearing Genutrain knee brace as it protects the knee and improves stabilisation. If you are recovering from a mild ACL injury, we recommend wearing the Genutrain S as the hinge provides lateral support. The viscopad provides a massaging effect which reduces inflammation. It’s important to prepare your body prior for a full day of skiing. We recommend strengthening your core and lower extremities through strength training exercises. Make sure you wear proper skiing equipment such as helmets, boots, wrist guards on the final day.

There is a certain risk of injuring your shoulder through a shoulder fracture (fractured clavicle), or have a shoulder dislocation/ separation through a fall while skiing. We recommend seeking assistance from a doctor to treat these major injuries. To recover from a shoulder injury, we recommend wearing Bauerfeind’s shoulder brace. It adapts to your body shape and provides stability to the shoulder muscles. This releases the pressure in the shoulder and provides relief to a strained shoulder. The medical-grade compression in Bauerfeind braces activates muscles, improves oxygenation and delays muscle soreness.

Skiing requires rapid maneuvering and frequent twisting motions on a slippery slope which can increase the risk of back injury. The overuse of spinal muscles and frequent falls can be a leading cause of chronic back pain in skiers. A common back injury in skiers is a herniated disk. This occurs when the disk (rubbery cushion in between vertebrae) pushes out through a tear and causes pain or numbness as it irritates the nerves. It is often referred to as slipped or ruptured disk. To prevent back injuries we recommend you prepare your body before the skiing season though back strengthening exercises and yoga. Wear a Sports Back Support to protect your back from straining. If you are suffering from acute or chronic back pain in your back, we recommend LordoLoc or LumboLoc Back Brace. These advanced braces have adjustable medical-grade compression which oxygenates the muscles and improve muscle regeneration.

Hands and wrists are at high risk while skiing due to the close contact with the ski pole. Wrist injuries can occur if the ski pole gets stuck or during a fall. A common hand injury is Skier’s thumb. The thumb can get caught in the ski pole strap and pill away from the hand causing a ligament tear. To recover from Skier’s thumb, we recommend Rhizoloc Thumb Stabiliser. To prevent wrist sprains, we recommend our Sports Wrist Support. If you are suffering from a wrist injury, we recommend Manutrain Wrist Support which is designed to soothe pain and accelerate healing.