Skiing is, with total security, the most practiced sport during the winter months in the different areas. Thousands and thousands of fans enjoy this practice during the weekends or on their winter holidays since, luckily, we have many stations and also well distributed throughout the territory from the domains of the Pyrenees , to Sierra Nevada in the south.

Fall while skiing


However, it also involves some risk and it is common to see fans fall. The most common injuries are usually small knocks and bruises that do not lead to more, but there are also other types of injuries that can be much more serious if the necessary precautions are not taken.
We are going to explain to you the most common injuries in skiing and how to prevent them.


WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENT INJURIES
ON SKIING AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
Taking into account the types of falls and the effort of the activity itself, the different injuries are usually located in the knee, shoulders, ribs and hands/arms.
  • Knees
Around 40% of injuries occur in the knees. The weight of the ski is focused on the flexion of the knees, so the most common injuries are centered on this part of the body. It is very common to twist the knee, causing injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and the internal lateral ligament. More frequent, the first.

Image of anterior cruciate ligament rupture


The reason is the sudden twist of the joint that produces a forced rotation of the knee, immediately producing acute pain as well as the inability to walk logically.
  • Shoulder injuries
The most common are so-called shoulder dislocations. The main reason is when a large part of the weight falls on them, causing dislocation. This injury is very common in sports such as downhill skiing or snowboarding. The Stabilizing ligaments of the shoulder are torn and the bone comes out so the pain is immediate with the inability to move it. In extreme cases, the shoulder may be fractured, possibly requiring surgical intervention.

Shoulder dislocation


Another common injury is a clavicle injury, resulting in a deformation in the upper part of the shoulder.
  • Hand injuries
The most common is the injury known as "Skier's Thumb". The finger suffers a sudden lateral movement causing the internal ligament to rupture. When the hand is closed on the cane, its fist produces this forced deviation which breaks the ligaments.
We can also cause a fracture in the wrist if the blow and support are a strong and dry impact.

Image of the injury


  • Arm injuries
Injuries to the upper extremities also involve elbow sprains or elbow fractures, although they are generally less frequent.




Other injuries

Although the above are the most typical in snow sports, there are also other injuries that occur during the practice of these sports, such as trauma, leg fractures, wrist sprains, and different finger injuries. br />

HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES

Naturally, a body that is previously trained is less prone to suffering this type of injury, although it also depends on many external factors such as the quality of the snow and the caution you take on each descent.
As we have mentioned, a trained body obtains greater resistance to blows and falls, although it is true that they are also more prone to the first and last hour of the ski day, due to warming up of the muscles and fatigue. at times close to the closure of the slopes.

warm-up


Another reason is fatigue, so it is advisable to rest properly during the day, making stops and breaks to avoid fatigue. It is also highly advisable to stay properly hydrated.
Finally, avoid poor quality snow as much as possible, especially in the afternoons. Icy or snowy slopes are more likely to cause overexertion and, consequently, the likelihood of injury.