Home > Sports Injuries > Skiing

SKIING

Lower limb: The knee is the most commonly injured joint. Medial collateral ligament injury, anterior cruciate ligament injury, Tibial plateau fractures and tibial spine avulsions., boot-top tibial plateau fractures, femoral fractures, patellar and hip dislocations can occur. These are usually due to awkward falls and the ski catching the snow and there by transmitting the rotatory force through the lower limb. Though stiffer boots and quick release bindings have decreased the incidence of foot and ankle injuries, they have not completely eliminated them.

Upper limb: One of the commonest injury is the Ulnar collateral ligament injury (Skier's thumb, a.k.a. Game keeper's thumb). This is due to the ski pole catching the snow and wrist strap causing the thumb to forcibly abduct and extend. Other injuries are shoulder dislocations, AC joint injuries and fractures, rotator cuff injuries, clavicle fractures and fractures of the bones of the hand.

The other areas that are likely to be injured are that of the head and neck, spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis.

The various factors that influence the likely hood of injuries are the snow conditions (hard ice, soft snow etc), skiing technique and level, type of skiing equipment (boots, bindings, helmets etc) and people management at the slopes.

SNOWBOARDING

Due to the nature of the sport, unlike skiing, wrist injuries are more common followed by ankle injuries.

Upper limb injuries :

Wrist injuries, shoulder and elbow dislocations, clavicle fracture and Acromio clavicular disruptions.