Ski Physiotherapy - Frequently Asked Questions
How common are ski injuries?
Despite its reputation, skiing is statistically safer than a lot of other sports. Different studies have measured injury statistics between sports and skiing usually ranks lower than football, basketball and even cycling. However, the severity of the injury when skiing is usually quite high. Serious head injuries are one of the leading causes, which is why wearing a helmet is always recommended. Other common injuries our ski physio service help resolve include:
Knee ligament injuries - most commonly the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), but it can also be the other ligaments and soft tissue structures in the knee
Fractures - more common in children than adult but typically wrist fractures are the more common fractures.
Dislocations - usually shoulder dislocations in the upper limb, and patella (knee) dislocations in the leg. These injuries should be assessed by the piste rescue team and put back in joint by a medically trained professional.
Skiers thumbs - an injury that occurs when your ski pole pulls on your thumb and tears a ligament. These injuries can seem innocuous but cause significant pain and disability in the long-term.
Low back pain - repeated falling can commonly cause low back pain. This should be assessed by a professional to rule out a fracture and to provide correct management advice.
Should I get ski insurance before I go?
Getting ski insurance is very much recommended! It costs relatively little and, as long as you have got good cover, you will get reimbursed for all payments. Getting mountain rescue, a medical consultation and potentially surgery will be very expensive! Make sure your insurance covers all the above for peace of mind.
Should I get an operation abroad or back home?
Each injury needs to be assessed as a separate case and a decision should be made alongside the assessing doctor. Typically, a soft tissue injury (not a fracture) does not need to be urgently operated on. We would usually recommend getting a soft tissue operation done back home. If you have had a significant trauma causing a fracture, you may need a more urgent operation abroad as there is usually a time pressure when it comes to getting an operation.