Ambio Black

Ambio Black

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Skiing and physiotherapy

from The Putney Clinic by The Putney Clinic
by Bhavini Mistry Physiotherapist BSc (Hons), MCSP

Are you planning a ski trip this winter? Whether you're a novice to the slopes or a regular skier, adequate preparation is the key to keeping common injuries to a minimum.

Recent studies of professional skiers found that joint and ligament injuries were amongst the commonest (43%), followed by fractures and bone stress (19%).


The common injuries in skiing:

* Knee injuries – ACL sprain / tears, other ligament sprains
* Lower limb fractures
* Wrist and thumb sprains
* Head injuries
* Upper limb (i.e. collar bone) fractures

Skiing places an extraordinary demand on your body, which you would not naturally exhort in your day-to-day activities. Therefore it is important to start training in advance by spending time on strength and conditioning yourself in the following areas:

* Cardiovascular fitness
* Muscle power
* Balance and proprioception
* Core strengthening
* Flexibility
* Endurance
* Pylometric conditioning

We know injuries are not completely avoidable, but minimizing them can be reduced by seeking professional advice early. A physiotherapy assessment can help you identify areas of weakness, stiffness and potential risks to injury, so come and have prevention screening session before heading to the slopes this season!

With a specific interest in sports injury and rehabilitation; together we can work on Pilates-based core strengthening alongside improving your general well-being!

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