The popularity of alpine skiing has increased as a recreational sport in recent years. It is common knowledge that lower leg and knee injuries have always been a problem, even though the injury rates have declined and the types of injuries have changed the count of knee injuries have not changed that much and still accounts for between 20-30% of all alpine skiing injuries.

The popularity of alpine skiing has increased as a recreational sport in recent years. It is common knowledge that lower leg and knee injuries have always been a problem, even though the injury rates have declined and the types of injuries have changed the count of knee injuries have not changed that much and still accounts for between 20-30% of all alpine skiing injuries.

The main reason knee injuries are so common is the nature or twisting of the skiing motion. The knee as a joint has many different elements including bones, muscles and ligaments, which are all very susceptible to injuries.

There are lots of little things you can do to help decrease the likelihood of you hurting your knee no matter how good you are at skiing and how many runs you have completed...(please note this will not stop any injuries happening!)

Improve your skills:

Your skiing ability can play a big role in not getting yourself injured. Investing in a few pre ski holiday lessons can really help reduce the risk of injury by up to 50%. If you have been skiing before it will be a great opportunity to refresh your skills and remind you of the rules of the piste and don't pick up bad techniques which can increase injury risk.

Look after your equipment

Ensuring you have the right equipment and that it has been looked after is essential, there has been great advances in boot and binding designs to help reduce injury risks. These advances will only help if they have been fitted properly and checked regularly. It is best to get trained technicians and mechanics to check your equipment and fit them for you. There are lots of things that influence which boot it right for you and these people have been trained to spot them.

Prepare your body

Make sure you warm up and cool down effectively before you get on the slopes. Skiing is typically done in cold temperatures, so you need to help your body become warm. Completing a typical warm up of a short jog and stretches for the hamstrings, iliotibial band, quadriceps and calf muscles can significantly reduce the risk of injuries.

It is also a really good idea to book yourself in for a few gym sessions before your holiday. Getting fit for the event can help reduce skier fatigue, which in turn will reduce the likelihood of mistakes being made, poor skiing technique and therefore less injuries are likely to occur.

Know your limits

Selecting the right slope difficulty on the mountain can also make a huge difference, a uniform code exists with the level of difficulty set out by the colour of the route. Don’t try to ski a route designed for a more experienced skier before you are ready for it. If you stick to the right level you are less likely to make mistakes and risk injuries.

Eat your breakfast

Skiing all day can really take it out of you, make sure you eat a good breakfast in the morning and take small energy filled snacks with you to keep you going.

You should listen to what your body is telling you and rest when you need to.

Although these tips can help reduce your chance of getting injured they are not a guarantee. just remember to be sensible, and know when your body is telling you something is not right!

Happy Skiing!! 

Back to the news