Protecting Your Knees During Skiing and Snowboarding Season

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.

How Can I Avoid Knee Injuries While Skiing or Snowboarding?

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:

  • Skiing within your limits – It is important to always be in control when you are skiing or snowboarding and to not push yourself to do something that your body physically cannot. Like any other activity, it is imperative that you listen to your body. A sports orthopedic surgeon on the upper east side would tell you that many patients have ignored the warning signs that their bodies gave them, leading to injury.
  • Being aware of conditions – The weather can dramatically change the condition of the ski run and may be challenging for recreational skiers. Be aware of these conditions before you start skiing or snowboarding. We do not suggest skiing/snowboarding in inclement weather, especially if you’re not an expert. 
  • Falling correctly – Nobody is perfect and you are bound to fall eventually while hitting the slopes due to the nature of the sport. When you do inevitably take a dive, it is essential to go with the flow of the fall and “fall with grace.” The body is more likely to be injured when the body stiffens up, so keep yourself comfortable and try not to panic.
  • Use the right gear – Make sure your equipment is properly fitted to you. DO NOT wear loose-fitting equipment. 
  • Training – Knee injuries are more common with recreational skiers because expert skiers normally have better technique. We at NYSMI, a sports orthopedic surgeon on the Upper East Side, have seen plenty of cases where patients did not have the proper technique or their legs were not properly conditioned for skiing or snowboarding.

How Knee Injuries Occur, and How to Prevent Them

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:

  • Being off-balance in the rear of your stance.
  • Having your hips below the knee.
  • Uphill arm back in an incorrect position.
  • Upper body facing downhill ski or keeping your weight on the inside edge of the downhill ski.

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. 

Sports Orthopedic Surgeon Upper East Side

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.

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