Preventing Ski Injuries Through Conditioning

A busy ski resort in the United States may see dozens of injuries on the slopes each day.

As an orthopedic surgeon, I also see many patients with ski-related injuries throughout the season. Most injuries are the result of poor conditioning, or equipment failure.

Ski Injury Prevention

Common Ski Injuries

The most common injuries amongst downhill skiers are knee sprains, shoulder injuries, head/face injuries and wrist/thumb injuries. The knee is the most commonly injured joint, resulting in about one third of all ski injuries. Injury rates and type vary with uncontrollable factors such as weather and snow conditions. Proper equipment and conditioning, however, are factors that we can control.

Equipment

When skiers examine their equipment, it’s important to make sure that:

  • Skis, poles, and boots are in good condition and properly sized for the individual’s weight, size and skill.
  • Binding are adjusted and tested prior to each ski season.
  • Helmets are properly fitted and checked for damage prior to the ski season.
  • Sunglasses, goggles and sunscreen are part of one’s safety equipment.

Conditioning

Skiers can increase their safety and performance this winter by starting with a pre-conditioning program that includes four components: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Aerobic fitness is the key to preventing the end of the day injuries (the last run).

Cross training, which includes multiple sports and activities in the conditioning regimen, has become popular, especially with a seasonal sport such as skiing. Strength and flexibility focusing on the legs and trunk are vital in injury prevention specific for skiing. Balance training has been shown to be the single most important exercise for preventing ACL tears in women.

A typical conditioning program can include:

1. Aerobic fitness (5 days/week for at least 30 minutes)

  • Running
  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Elliptical or stair climber
  • Jumping rope
  • Treadmill

2. Strength (3 days/week, 2 sets of 60 seconds each)

  • Leg press
  • Wall squats
  • Hamstring curls
  • Toe raises
  • Lateral leg raises
  • Sit-ups

3. Flexibility (daily, 2 sets of 60 seconds each)

  • Hamstring stretches
  • Achilles stretches
  • Quad stretches

4. Balance Exercises (daily, 2 sets of 60 seconds)

  • Standing on one leg, perform mini squats
  • Single leg hop, holding for five (5) seconds, repeat

In addition to a conditioning program, skiers need to adequately warm up – an activity that is often neglected with skiing. No one would think of running out on the football field or onto the basketball court without warming up first.

But with skiing, one typically sits in the car for an hour or more to get to the slopes, and then stands in line for tickets and for the lift, before finally sitting on the chair for several minutes. By the time one has arrived on the top of the hill, he or she is often stiff and cold.

It’s important for skiers to remember to warm up and stretch before starting down the hill. Often an easy, predictable run is a good idea before heading to the more challenging terrain. The few minutes spent warming up will be well worthwhile in injury prevention.

More about Knee Injuries

Every ski season, I treat many knee injuries. In the 1970′s, ankle injuries were more common, resulting from soft, leather boots. The development of stiffer boots has transferred much of the force to the knee.

Medial Collateral Ligament

The most common knee injury from skiing is the MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury. It often results from catching an edge or having the skis diverge, so that the foot is forced away from the body. This creates a distraction force on the inside of the knee.

Fortunately, the MCL has a good blood supply, and can be treated non-operatively, with a period of bracing for 4-8 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries are also common skiing injuries. They are thought to occur from the forces created by the long lever arm of the ski that are transmitted to the knee ligaments. Commonly, the ACL is injured with a hyperextension mechanism.

In expert skiers, we see ACL injuries when saving a backwards fall by a strong quadriceps contraction, pulling the tibia (lower leg) forward with enough force to rupture the ACL.

Recent boot and binding technology has reduced the rate of ACL injuries. In young, active individuals, the ACL injuries often require surgical reconstruction. Success rates from surgery are excellent, but require aggressive rehabilitation and six months of recovery time before one can return to skiing or other twisting or pivoting sports.

No one wants to go down the path of surgery and recovery. But too many people wait to think about preparing for skiing until half way through the season, when snow has already accumulated and they are on their way to the top of the mountain. Many times, this is too late.

Although injury is a risk we all take when participating in any sport, a conscientious approach to skiing – including equipment inspection and conditioning – will minimize the occurrence. Not only will these precautions reduce injury rate, but they will also enhance performance, decrease fatigue, and ultimately, increase one’s enjoyment of the sport.

If you believe you are suffering from a knee-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, the surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provide excellent treatment options available for you.

Knee Injuries on the Job

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Driving down Interstate 5 through the Pacific Northwest, you see a lot of logging trucks pass you by.

Loggers and truck drivers do a lot of heavy lifting and/or climbing, but so do other professions, like nurses, construction workers, doctors or even chefs who walk long distances while lifting items they may need on the job.

You may not think of these jobs as a place where a knee injury might occur, but in fact, occasionally injure a person.

A knee injury might not be apparent at first, but over time, may become swollen and painful. The knee injury now becomes an impediment, and you are unable to lift things because your stance is unstable.

Think about the last time you wobbled a little because your knee gave out and developed a nagging pain soon after. Did you do anything to alleviate the pain you felt in your knee?

Common Knee Injuries

Meniscus Injuries: Meniscus tears can cause intense pain and instability in the knee depending on the severity of the tear. Clients with tears to the meniscus describe a sensation of their knee “giving out” or “coming out from under them” while walking or climbing stairs.

The knee will most likely swell in order to protect itself, which can be intensely painful and can limit movement. Although physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and cortisone injections can help reduce symptoms, an orthopedic doctor will often recommend arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear.

Ligament Injuries: Injuries to the cruciate ligaments – such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – are sometimes referred to as sprains, but they can be much more complicated than simple muscle strains. These injuries can require months of treatment to recover, and some cruciate ligament injuries — e.g., anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears – may require reconstructive surgery.

Chondromalacia: Chondromalacia is a disorder caused by softening of the articular cartilage of the kneecap. It can be caused by traumatic injury or overuse or repetitive motion on the job. Signs and symptoms of chondromalacia include dull, achy pain in the front of the knee, increased pain when walking up or down stairs, pain in the knee when kneeling or squatting, knee pain after sitting for long periods of time, a grating or grinding sensation when you extend your knee and knee stiffness.

To diagnose the problem, an OSS physician may require you to attempt simple knee exercises or recommend X-rays or other imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan. Treatment options include rest, pain relievers or physical therapy. In rare cases, arthroscopic or realignment surgery may be options.

According to Dr. Watt, “Knee problems and injuries may be job-related or not. Sometimes it is obvious and sometimes not obvious and this may be part of the initial evaluation. I have extensive experience on all types of knee problems and injuries and would love to help anyone with a knee problem to try and regain a healthy knee.”

Dr. Watt is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon here at OSS who works with patients dealing with a wide range of orthopedic issues. Dr. Watt carefully weighs conservative and aggressive methods of treatment to devise a plan tailored to the specific needs of the individual. This personalized approach creates excellent outcomes, with patients working as close partners in the treatment process.

Save the Dates for OSS Physicians Speaker Series!

Save the Dates! OSS physicians will be speaking about several orthopedic health and information topics from October – December 2013 at Swedish Ballard. Below is a list of dates and times for you to choose from:

October 2, 2013
Dr. Peterson: Joint Replacement: The Right Choice for You? 6-8 p.m. at the Swedish Ballard Campus. Free hip- and knee-replacement seminar. If you have arthritic joint pain and are considering joint replacement, you’ll want to attend this important class. If you have arthritic joint pain and are considering joint replacement, you’ll want to attend this important class. Dr. Peterson will discuss hip- and knee-replacement surgery, as well as the latest in robotic-assisted surgery for those who have advanced arthritis in part of their knee. There will also be a question and answer session with Dr. Peterson.

Find out more and register here!

October 9, 2013
Dr. Weil: Relief from Your Hand and Wrist Pain. 6-8 p.m. at the Swedish Ballard Campus. Learn about treatments for different types of fractures; ways to treat arthritis in the wrist, thumbs and fingers; and how to prevent and treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other overuse conditions.

Find out more and register here!

November 13, 2013
Dr. Reed: Relief from Your Foot and Ankle Pain. 6-8 p.m. at the Swedish Ballard Campus. The foot and ankle are two of the most often under-treated structures of the body. Dr. Reed, who specializes in the care of the foot and ankle will discuss the anatomy and common injuries and disorders of the foot and ankle, and treatment options for the conditions. There will be a question-and-answer session with the surgeon included in the class.

Find out more and register here!

December 4, 2013
Dr. Ruhlman: Relief from Your Hand and Wrist Pain. 6-8 p.m. at the Swedish Ballard Campus. Learn about treatments for different types of fractures; ways to treat arthritis in the wrist, thumbs and fingers; and how to prevent and treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other overuse conditions.

Find out more and register here!

MCL Tears and Repairs By Dr. Charlie Peterson, MD

MCL Tears and Repairs

The medial collateral ligament (MCL), located on the inside portion of the knee, is one of the more common sporting injuries to the lower extremity. It is usually an “acute” injury, meaning that it happens suddenly due to trauma. In sports, the athlete may take a sudden blow to the outside of the knee, creating excessive tensile force to the MCL, such as being tackled in football. This injury also occurs commonly in sports where the ankle is immobilized such as hockey and downhill skiing, where the ankle is stabilized in a skate or boot. This immobilization leaves the knee to absorb the full impact of a collision or fall and increases the risk of knee injury.

Functional Anatomy

The skeletal anatomy of the knee consists of three bones. The thigh bone, medically termed the femur connects with the shin bone, called the tibia. In the front of the knee is the knee cap, or the patella. Holding these bones together are the four major knee ligaments. Two are located deep within the joint and are called cruciate ligaments. They prevent excessive forward and backward motion, as well as rotation. The remaining two are the collateral ligaments, and are located on the sides of the knee. Their job is to prevent lateral, or sideways, motion of the knee. The MCL is located on the inside of the knee joint and prevents the knee from collapsing inward. In addition to the bones and ligaments, the knee has two cartilage pads called the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. These pads act as shock absorbers within the knee.

Types of MCL Injury

Tears to the MCL are usually a result of direct trauma, either from a blow to the outside of the knee, such as with a football tackle, or a fall that pushes the lower leg sideways. Partial tears will cause varying degrees of instability within the knee, and are often treated successfully with conservative interventions including bracing and physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding musculature. Complete tears may cause significant instability in the knee, especially if in combination with other ligament injuries such as the ACL.

If isolated, even high-grade MCL tears can still often be treated with bracing alone. However, such tears often occur in conjunction with other structures such as the medial meniscus or the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The medial meniscus has a direct connection to the MCL, making it particularly susceptible to injury during an acute MCL sprain. Should this be the case, surgical intervention may be required to restore full function due to the degree of instability caused by multiple injuries.

Non-operative Treatment

MCL tears are most often treated successfully without surgery. With significant tears there may be an initial degree if instability following injury. A hinged knee brace may be prescribed to limit control of this aberrant movement. As the ligament heals, your orthopedic surgeon may refer you to physical therapy to strengthen the leg musculature surrounding the knee, and also to restore normal movement patterns that may have been disrupted following injury and immobilization. Patients are able to perform most of their normal daily activities during this process, with the possible exception of high intensity athletics, and generally have very good outcomes following four to eight weeks of rehabilitation.

Surgical Treatment

In cases where non-operative treatment has failed or in some multiple ligament injuries, the surgeon will recommend repair or reconstruction surgery. This means that the damaged MCL will be repaired with sutures if possible. If that is not possible, then a new ligament can be fashioned from a soft-tissue “graft,” a piece of tendon taken from either the patient or a cadaver. A small incision is made to gain access to the area, and the repair made, or the tendon graft is anchored in place with surgical screws.

Following surgery, there will be a period of immobilization, followed by physical therapy. The duration and intensity of the rehabilitation process is dependent on the type of MCL repair or reconstruction, and the other injuries present. In most cases, patients can return to full function including athletics at the conclusion of treatment.