Skiing Holidays; Injuries Prevention and Treatment

If you are thinking about booking a skiing holiday this winter or spring, then it is worth remembering, that you may be coming home with not only good memories, but a few bumps and scratches too. Most of us who go skiing will try to take care on the slopes and avoid falling as best we can. However, unsurprisingly, there are still a lot of injuries caused by the most simple mishaps. Skiing holidays injuries can occur through the smallest twist or fall, or more dramatically leading to hospitalisation.Skiing at levels above your ability, dehydration, lack of rest and poor equipment can all have a negative effect on your ski holiday and leave you in quite a lot of pain, with some injuries needing further care, and sending you home early. Thankfully, most skiing injuries are minor and can be treated with rest, anti-inflammatories and physical therapy.To help you deal with any mishaps here is Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic’s guide on preventing and treating those slalom spills.

Prevention

According to ski-injury.com, one of the most common ski or snowboarding injuries is that of the knee, accounting for nearly 40% of all ski-related injuries. Knee problems happen when the knee is twisted because of the shoe or board bindings. Even the smallest sprain can ruin your ski holiday, so it is better to prevent any potential problems with a few simple steps:

• Make sure your equipment fits properly and is fully adjusted to suit you.
• Get lessons. It might seem like a simple step but sometimes we think we're at Olympic level.
• Rest. Don't do too much the first day and don't drink alcohol on the slopes!
• Don't walk in your boots too much. It can adjust the binding and cause injury.
• If you have had a previous knee injury, you might consider using a knee brace or support.
• Before you go skiing talk to a physiotherapist about how you can use stretching and strengthening exercises to combat injury.

 Treatments

If you suffer a knee injury or any joint injury during skiing, seek the help of a specialist or physiotherapist immediately. During the acute stage (the first 48-72 hours) of a severe knee ligament injury, exact diagnosis can be difficult due to the gross swelling around the joint. So it is best to seek a professional to confirm diagnosis. If the knee is swollen, apply an ice pack wrapped in a damp towel to the knee and elevate the knee whenever possibleBy adopting some of our exercises to help you get fit for skiing you will prepare yourself for the slopes and prevent injury, giving you more peace of mind to enjoy your holiday.If you need relief from pain from a skiing injury or want advice on previous injuries before you go, please call us and we would be happy to offer you an individual consultation.