Skiing is a fun holiday activity but it’s also a particularly strenuous sport; even if you return home injury-free, chances are your body is going to feel the effects of your trip. So here’s a gentle reminder of how you can prepare for your next ski trip and hopefully avoid a visit to your physio on your return.
Are you ski fit?
You should ask yourself this question before you go away. It’s a little late the week before your trip, so give yourself plenty of time to ask that question, be very honest with yourself about the answers and, if necessary, seek some help to get you ready.
We’ve previously talked about being ski fit because it can help you prevent injuries, be less impacted by falls and ultimately help you to enjoy as much time on-piste as possible.
If you’re concerned about your physical fitness a ski fit assessment will help you. We can look at your:
- Strength
- Balance
- Coordination
- Range/flexibility
- General fitness level
From this we can advise on targeted exercises to build areas of weakness.
Injuries do not necessarily prevent you from skiing but if you have an existing injury you think will be exacerbated by skiing, your physio can help you to identify treatments to focus on improvement before you go. They can also advise on how to manage the injury while you’re away.
One of our clients at Petersfield Physio had ruptured the cruciate ligament in her knee last season and needed surgery. When she skis again this year she needs to wear a brace to protect the repaired ligament but this will give her the confidence that she won’t re-injure herself and let her ski more assertively, which will help her avoid falls. In addition, we advised her about exercises to support and protect her knee prior to going skiing.
Tips for keeping injury free on the slopes
Endurance and strength are key to being ski fit, but if you’ve left it a little late and don’t have a few weeks of training time before you go, here are some tips to help stay injury free:
- Select slopes that are right for your ability and fitness level
- Stay hydrated whilst skiing
- Wear proper support on existing injuries
- Keep warm
- Ensure skiwear fits properly
- Take the opportunity to do what exercise you can before you go
If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident whilst skiing, we have some tips for reducing downtime at saving your ski trip and when you return home, your physio will be able to get you back into your ski boots ready for your next adventure.
Petersfield Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic
At Petersfield Physio we are here to support our clients every step of the way, even when they find it hard to commit to their exercises.
If you’d like support to lead an active life and live in the Hampshire or Surrey areas, contact the Petersfield Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic or ring 01730 267645. We are here to advise, guide and support you back to a pain-free, active lifestyle. After all – it’s a joint process.
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