Skiing is great exercise and a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors in the frosty air. It can also be hard on your body if you are not accustomed to it or are new to the sport.
According to the attorneys at Rosenbaum Injury Firm, in 2023 injuries on the slopes weren’t that common. Less than two or three people per 1,000 that hit the slopes left with an injury. But that doesn’t mean that skiing isn’t hard on your body. In fact, the high-intensity workout you get while skiing is often touted as one of the benefits.
Is Skiing Hard on Your Body?
Columbia outerwear gear makes no bones about why skiing is hard on your body. “Because you’re in the squat position for an extended period, the isometric posture keeps your quads consistently engaged, and your glutes, calves, and hamstrings will get significantly stronger too. Shifting your weight while skiing or snowboarding is essential; therefore, using your core, especially the obliques, is necessary to rotate the torso and support the lower body.”
That means people who have not been on the slopes before or haven’t been using their leg muscles and core muscles all year long, may find the first day on the slope results in some muscle aches and exhaustion much like any hard but unfamiliar workout. That’s why you should always take preventive measures before skiing.
The position that is best for skiing requires you to place your knees, and potentially other leg joints, in a position that is not best for supporting them. Squatting, for instance, puts a lot of stress on your knees and hips and that can lead to injuries.
Knee injuries are one of the most common, or possibly the most common injuries from skiing. Minor muscle strains and tears are likely more frequent, but they often go untreated by medical professionals. Knee injuries, including torn ligaments, may occur in almost 25% of male skiers during the season and in up to 44% of female skiers, according to data from the 2016-2017 season.
According to the National Institutes of Health, ligament injuries have remained fairly consistent despite the improvement of safety gear for skiing. “Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries continue to be very problematic and, unfortunately, have remained quite prevalent over time.”
ACL tears and most common skiing injuries result from falls, which are almost always self-inflicted, meaning the skier was the sole participant in the incident. Often these are the result of someone overestimating their skill and taking a run too fast or attempting a course that is too challenging.
Other injuries, including head injuries, have become less common with the use of helmets and other safety equipment.
Shoulder injuries, leg and ankle injuries and something called skier’s thumb are currently the most common.
What Is the Most Common Injury While Skiing?
Knee injuries, including tears to the ACL or the meniscus, are the single most common type of skiing injury, but skier’s thumb is becoming increasingly common.
Skier’s thumb usually occurs when “A fall on an outstretched hand with a ski pole in the palm of your hand creates the force necessary to stress the thumb and stretch or tear the ligament. A simple fall on an outstretched hand with an empty palm usually does not create this same force,” according to WebMD.
Ankle, hip, and shoulder injuries from falls are often similar in that they involve damage to the ligaments, the connective tissue between muscles and bone.
When these injuries occur, it is important to see a doctor to make certain that the injury rehabilitation is done correctly to return the body to the proper range of motion.
Can a Chiropractor Help with a Sports Injury?
Yes! This study published in 2023 by the National Institutes of Health focuses on the ways that chiropractic care is helping to improve athletic performance when it is incorporated after an injury.
The goal of chiropractic care after an injury is to restore the body to the correct homeostasis, with the muscles, bones, and joints working together smoothly. While some medical professionals might focus on the bones only when they are broken, chiropractors understand better than most that a stretched or torn ligament is pulling your skeleton out of alignment.
In addition, chiropractors are accustomed to using deep tissue massage and other techniques to promote healthy healing. Making certain you address all the aspects of your injury can help you get back on the slopes faster and with better form when you do.
If You Fall on the Slopes, Call Total Chiro for Relief
Here at Total Chiropractic Care, we can assess your injury and start the healing process. Call us today and feel better soon.