The commonest injuries seen amongst alpine skiers are knee sprains, thumb sprains and shoulder injuries.
(a) The commonest single injury to an alpine skier is a grade I-II sprain of the medial collateral ligament on the inside of the knee. Usually these result from a twisting fall when the lower leg bends outwards relative to the thigh. An additional factor may be a failure of the ski binding to release. These injuries also result from a ‘snowplough gone wrong’, especially when the skier has a wide, unstable stance (as in the picture on the right). Although no releasable ski binding currently available could ever claim to protect the skier against all such injuries, correct functioning of the boot-binding interface maximises the chances of correct binding release occurring and consequently reduces the risk of this injury. To keep your boot-binding interface in top condition, I recommend the following:
Have your bindings serviced at least once a season – bindings are mechanical devices that require cleaning, lubrication, and re-setting. Think of all that salt, dirt, rust etc playing havoc with the internal springs….. Studies have shown that un-serviced bindings are less likely to release because (for example) although they may be set at say 6, in fact the springs have become a bit stiffer through lack of care and as a result they actually act as if they were set at 8. Ideally, if you ski alot you should have your bindings serviced every 15 ski days.
Avoid walking about too much whilst wearing your ski boots. The sole of the boot is designed to fit snugly into the binding plate so that it “transmits” accurate information between the ski, the binding and your lower leg. If the ski boot sole becomes worn down, the efficiency of the boot-binding interface may be compromised
If you are hiring your gear, always go to a reputable rental facility and, if the staff or equipment don’t inspire confidence, go elsewhere. Carving skis should be the norm now and it’s worth paying a bit more money for good quality kit. A lack of carving skis in a rental facility may be an indication to go elsewhere.
Never borrow someone else’s skis unless either you or they know what you’re doing and can properly readjust bindings to the correct settings! As already mentioned, our research indicates that those who borrow gear are 8 x (yes, eight times!) more likely to be injured than
Finally – and most importantly, get into the habit of performing a test on your ski bindings everyday. This simple procedure ensures that your bindings are set correctly for your needs, has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of injury and is endorsed by experts from the International Society for Skiing Safety. The link above will take you to a page with more detailed information about this procedure.
(b) Certain situations increase the risk of a serious knee sprain (anterior cruciate ligament tear). The commonest mechanism of ACL injury is the so-called ‘Phantom Foot’ which classically occurs in three situations….
1. Attempting to get up whilst still moving after a fall
2. Leaning right back on your skis or attempting to sit down after losing control
3. Attempting to recover from an inevitable fall
To avoid such injuries –
? In a fall, keep your arms forward and your hands over your skis if possible
? Don’t fully straighten your legs when you fall – try and keep them bent
? After a fall, don’t try to get up until you have stopped
Recent ACL friendly developments included Lange’s rear release boot system. This seemed to be a positive step towards reducing the incidence of ACL injuries – but sadly did not prove to be a commercial success and is no longer available. Recent binding developments may offer a new ray of hope in the fight to reduce ACL injuries from alpine skiing.
(c) Skiing with your hands inside the ski pole straps incorrectly can lock your hand to the pole in a fall, the pole then acts as a lever on the thumb and this greatly increases the risk of injury to the thumb joint. Whilst no one device or piece of advice has any direct evidence to support its use, using the pole straps correctly should help. Some researchers advocate that you should ski with your hands outside the pole straps (i.e. don’t use the pole straps). Two exceptions to this rule would be when skiing in deep powder snow on piste though where the loss of a pole could be a major problem, or if skiing off-piste when poles may help you to “swim” in the event of an avalanche.
(d) Contrary to popular belief, it has been proven in several studies that skiers are more likely to collide with and injure fellow skiers than are snowboarders. Keep a close eye on everyone else on the piste! It is the responsibility of the uphill skier or snowboarder to avoid collisions with those below them (just as in a car accident, the rear car is usually held responsible in a front/back
(e) If you have already sustained an ACL injury and/or undergone reconstructive surgery, consider wearing a hinged knee brace Ottawa.
If you have any questions or would like additional information on this matter please speak with your physiotherapist at any of our three locations which can be found at our Orleans Massage Therapy, Westboro Massage Therapy, and Barrhaven Massage Therapy locations.
