Skiing and snowboarding are just a few of the most enjoyable sports that the winter season has to offer, however, without the proper precautions, you can put yourself at serious risk. Your knees are incredibly vulnerable to injury when participating in these sports. Your sports orthopedic surgeon on the Upper East Side at NYSMI would tell you that the most common knee injuries sustained as a result of these activities are ones to the ACL and MCL. However, you do not necessarily have to fall in order to damage your ACL. Seventy percent of all ACL injuries are non-contact and could potentially be avoided with the right precautionary steps.
If you ski or snowboard safely, you are more likely to avoid any serious injury. Some factors to keep in mind while engaging in this activity:
When skiing or snowboarding, you should always try to stay within your limits to decrease the risk of injury. However, even the most experienced athletes can find themselves in precarious situations. How you respond to and handle yourself in these situations can change whether you experience an injury or walk away safely. If you have suffered from a knee injury from skiing or snowboarding, reach out to us at NYSMI for a sports orthopedic surgeon on the Upper East Side and get the help you need for recovery and care.
Often, the most common injuries in the knees from sports activities like skiing and snowboarding occur in the ACL and MCL. Injuries in these areas are more common because of the large amounts of twisting and bending forces that your knee can experience during these activities. The board or ski, combined with the stiff boots holding your legs in, can create a scenario that overloads the force in your knees and impels an injury. Some common errors or dangers that increase the risk of injury include:
If you find yourself in those situations, it is best to take the proper steps to fix your position, or even to bail out, as your risk of injury is far greater in those situations. Some ways to fix bad positioning include keeping your arms forward, feet together, and your hands over your skis. Additionally, you should maintain balance and control and keep your hips above your knees.
If you have injured your knee while skiing, snowboarding, or during any sport, visit a sports orthopedic surgeon on the Upper East Side as soon as you can to avoid any further damage. If you are experiencing any pain, swelling, heat, redness, tenderness, hear any clicking or popping sounds, or if you have difficulty bending or putting weight on your knee, we encourage our patients to come to the New York Sports Medicine Institute. Our sports orthopedic surgeon on the Upper East Side understands that every injury is different and we will be able to provide you with the proper care and rehab to get you back on the slopes as soon as possible. For more information, check out our website, or contact our NYC location at 212.861.2300.