VANTHIELMD

Most Common Skiing Knee Injuries

No matter what level of skier you are, there is still a chance you can end up with a knee injury from the twists, turns and falls of a fun sport like this. Here are the most common knee injuries to be aware of while on the slopes:

Medial Collateral Ligament  Sprain or Tear

Typically occurs when the ligament on the inside of the knee is stretched or torn.  This can occur when one leg slips out from the other during a fall, or a skier/snowboarder is hit from uphill.   MCL injuries cause instability, swelling, decreased motion and pain on the inside of the knee.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament  Injury or Tear

- Sudden stopping - Pivoting or sudden changes in direction - Improper landing following a jump ACL injuries cause instability, pain and swelling in the knee.

Typically results from:

Tear in the knee cartilage that cushions shinbone/thighbone

Common injury for skiers or snowboarders. Typically occurs when there is a twisting motion to the knee. Pain is more common on the inside of the knee and can be sharp with certain knee movements. The pain can go away and then come back again in different knee positions.

Quad Stretching

Hamstring Stretching

Side Planks

Squats

Before you ski, practice some pre- and post- workout stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent knee injuries: