Avoiding Knee Injuries While Skiing

Preventing Injury and Maximising Performance on the Slopes

Avoiding Knee InjuriesWhile Skiing

1. Common knee injuries

2. Causes of knee injuries

3. Treatment (surgery)

4. Protection (bracing)

5. Prevention (safety)

6. Advice for injured skiers

1. Common knee injuries• Damage to the Anterior Cruciate

Ligament (ACL) accounts for the majority of skiing injuries.

• This often occurs in conjunction with damage to other knee structures:o Medial Meniscuso Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)

• When all three structures are injured, it’s known as the Terrible Triad

Common knee injuries

Other common knee injuries

• Cartilage damage

• Medial meniscus tear

• Lateral meniscus tear

• Bone injury

• Tibial plateau fracture

2. Causes of knee injuries

• Extreme weather conditions, high-speed descents and the long lever point on skis combine to place a lot of pressure on skiers’ knees.

• Those with an existing weakness in the knee are particularly susceptible to injury, e.g.o a previously sustained ACL tearo an inflamed knee joint resulting from a degenerative

disease like osteoarthritis (OA)

• Tiredness at the end of the day• Inattention

3. Treating knee injuries

• Following injury, the first thing to do is follow the RICE regime. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate.

If you have torn your ACL in combination with another knee injury such as a damaged meniscus, bone bruise or other ligament tear, surgery may be required.

If you have torn your ACL in isolation, non-surgical treatment may be adequate once the swelling has subsided.

Treating knee injuries

• Non-surgical treatment involves wearing an ACL knee brace to support the knee and prevent it from sustaining further injury.

• Knee bracing is also recommended after surgery to help you recover and return to a performance level close to your original one.

4. Protecting knee injuriesA knee brace for skiing can:

• Stabilise functional deficits• Re-introduce controlling forces to replace

deficient structures in the ligaments• Improve anatomical alignment and

rehabilitate wasted muscles• Protect ligament repairs• Strengthen musculature• Stabilise joint laxity• Realign and offload unstable joints

Protecting knee injuries

• Warning: a cheap fabric knee support from the chemist will do little more than keep your knee warm.

• These are is wholly inadequate without the rigid support and control offered by functional knee bracing.

• Look for brands like Ossur (CTi), DonJoy and Medi, whose knee braces provide protection against the unique perils presented by ice, snow and rock.

• Good quality knee bracing can help rehabilitate wasted muscles, improve anatomical alignment and even enhance performance over time.

Protecting knee injuries

What to look for in a knee brace for skiing

• Firm but lightweight• Torsional control across the knee• Support – to replace loss of control of

injured ligament(s)• Close contact and contour – to evenly

distribute loading• Adequate accommodation – to effectively

allow muscle build• Durability – to absorb high activity impact• Adjustability – for the perfect fit

5. Preventing further injury

General safety measures

• Ensure that your skiing equipment is in good condition• Have your bindings checked regularly• Avoid needlessly high-risk behaviour, e.g. don’t jump

unless you know how to land• Routinely correct poor skiing technique, e.g. hips

below the knees or arms behind your back• Learn to recognise and respond quickly to potentially

dangerous situationsSource: Vermont Ski Safety

6. Advice for injured skiers

1. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate).2. If it’s a severe or combined knee injury, surgery is

recommended.3. If not, knee braces for skiing may be sufficient.4. Knee bracing is also recommended after surgery to

protect weakened knees.5. Following treatment (surgical or non-surgical), seek

out a professional instructor for your first few sessions back on the slopes. They will be able to advise you on further strategies for avoiding knee injuries while skiing.

Thank you for taking the time to read this presentation.

Brought to you by Technology in Motion,UK premier private orthotic clinics& supplier of quality knee braces

Visit www.technologyinmotion.com/knee-bracing or call0330 100 1800 for more information