Skiers and snowboarders travel far and wide to Colorado’s winter wonderland to experience the majestic Rocky Mountain slopes. While skiing and snowboarding offer an exhilarating experience for many, they still pose a significant risk of injury. From common sprains and strains from overuse to serious injuries such as fractures or dislocations, skiing and snowboarding can sideline even the most experienced winter sports enthusiasts.
Fortunately, physical therapy offers an advantage in recovering and rehabilitating winter sports injuries, allowing many patients to return to the slopes in their best condition. Here, we will explore some of the most common ski and snowboard injuries and the role of physical therapy in helping winter sports athletes get back on the mountains with peak performance.
The Risk of Skiing and Snowboarding
While skiing and snowboarding offer an unparalleled experience, navigating snowy terrain can put a lot of stress on the body’s musculoskeletal system. High speeds, impacts from jumping, and the potential for falls contribute to various injuries, impacting winter sports athletes of all abilities, from recreational skiers and snowboarders to competitive or Olympic athletes. While skiing and snowboarding injuries can vary between each other — due to the different directional mechanics and foot placement — there are a few common injuries shared between the two sports, including:
Knee Injuries: Compared to the bound nature of snowboarding, skiers are often at higher risk of knee injuries due to the split nature of skis and their increased exposure and vulnerability to twisting and bending. Common ski injuries to the knee may include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprains, and meniscus tears, often requiring reconstruction and physical therapy to regain stability, range of motion, and function. While snowboarding poses less risk, an improper fall can yield the same risk of injury.
Ankle and Foot Injuries: Sprains and ankle and foot fractures are prevalent in skiing and snowboarding. While ski and snowboard boots are designed to prevent twisting or abnormal ankle and foot movement, improper fitting boots, hard landings, and other impactful movements can cause fractures or stress injuries to the foot and ankle. In snowboarding, a condition recognized as “snowboarder’s ankle” is a common condition where the foot is forcefully pointed upward and turned outward, fracturing the talus bone.
Shoulder Injuries: Skiers and snowboarders often experience shoulder injuries after catching themselves or falling onto outstretched arms. These falls can often lead to shoulder dislocations, rotator cuff tears, or even fractures of the humerus bone or collarbone.
Wrist Injuries: Similar to shoulder injuries, falling onto outstretched arms can affect the wrist, causing fractures and sprains. Wrist injuries are much more common in snowboarders who use their hands and wrists for balance, bracing, and getting back up after a fall.
Back Injuries: The repetitive motions and forces involved in skiing and snowboarding, especially with improper technique, can contribute to back pain, muscle strain, disc herniations, or other spinal injuries. If skiers and snowboarders lack core strength, they can often over-flex their bodies during a hard fall, straining their back muscles.
Head Injuries: Concussions and other head injuries are a serious concern in skiing and snowboarding. While helmets exist to mitigate the risk of head trauma, they do not eliminate it entirely. In moderate to severe cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the brain and nervous system may be affected, causing delays in cognitive function and weakness in the extremities.
Restoring Movement and Function After a Ski or Snowboard Injury
Skiing and snowboarding offer an exhilarating experience for many winter sports enthusiasts. However, injuries are bound to happen. If you’re hoping to get back to the slopes in tip-top shape, visiting a licensed physical therapist can help you recover, regain your strength, and enjoy your sport safely after a skiing or snowboarding injury. Physical therapists can help to diagnose injuries and develop personalized treatment plans that address the specific needs of each patient, focusing on:
Pain management: Physical therapists can help patients reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling after a ski or snowboard injury by using various therapeutic techniques such as manual therapy and exercise. Techniques such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy also offer a modern approach to managing pain and facilitating healing.
Restoring Range of Motion: Ski and snowboard injuries often restrict joint movement. In cases where the joints are injured, moving or manipulating injured areas can cause pain and stiffness, hindering the patient’s ability to perform everyday tasks. Physical therapists offer therapeutic interventions such as stretching, soft tissue mobilization, and joint manipulation to help restore flexibility and range of motion so patients can return to their daily activities.
Strengthening Muscles: After a more serious injury or surgery for an ACL, MCL, or meniscus tear, patients may have weakened muscles as their injuries begin to heal. Following surgical intervention, physical therapists can help heal and rehabilitate rebuilt ligament structures, restoring functionality in injured areas. Physical therapists can design specialized and targeted exercise programs that strengthen muscles and improve stability, allowing skiers and snowboarders to sustain dynamic movements upon returning to the slopes.
Improving Balance and Proprioception: Balance and proprioception are crucial for skiing and snowboarding, allowing winter sports athletes to maintain spatial awareness and balance. Physical therapy exercises can focus on balance training and recovery, reducing the risk of falls and improving overall athletic performance.
Functional Training: Since skiing and snowboarding are specialized sports requiring a specific level of strength (quadriceps, core, and other lower extremities), physical therapists incorporate sport-specific exercises into their rehabilitation programs to prepare patients for the demands of their specific sport. For skiers and snowboarders, a physical therapist may include agility drills, plyometrics, or simulated skiing or snowboarding into your exercise regime to mimic the forces experienced on the slopes.
Treating Winter Sports Athletes With Physical Therapy
As Colorado’s slopes and resorts continue attracting a broad range of winter sports enthusiasts, Denver serves as a hub for skiers and snowboarders alike. Denver’s physical therapists understand the challenges of treating ski and snowboarding injuries and are prepared to deliver comprehensive treatment that helps patients return to ski country in their best possible shape.
Through specialized and local knowledge of winter sports injuries, Denver physical therapists are familiar with the biomechanics of skiing and snowboarding, offering meticulous and detailed strategies for injury rehabilitation, recovery, and injury prevention. Total Physical Therapy is Denver’s premier physical therapy clinic, offering personalized and research-backed care to athletes of all levels. By partnering with one of our expert physical therapists after a ski or snowboarding injury, patients can conquer their injuries, regain their strength, and get right back into enjoying the thrill of winter sports. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or contact us at (303) 758-5060.
