For those who enjoy hitting the slopes, it’s exhilarating to cut through the icy air, gaining momentum as you take in the view and feel the adrenaline rush that comes from riding down a mountain. However, even though skiing is fun, it’s still a sport, which means there is a potential for injury.

Skiing has a high physical demand—add in the icy conditions and bulky protective gear that can restrict movement, and injuries can be common. However, knowing what types of injuries may occur can help you to prepare and prevent accordingly.

Common Skiing Injuries
When it comes to injuries while skiing, they most often occur due to falls, and the lower body sees more injury than the upper body.

Knee Injuries
Of all the types of injuries seen in skiers, knee injuries are the most common, comprising up to 41% of all injuries. This is because the knees are heavily utilized in skiing to maintain the proper position while traversing down the mountain and weaving side-to-side. However, this means the knees can take on quite a strain, leading to injury.

In the knee, it’s often the ligaments that take the brunt of the injury, with tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) the most common. These injuries typically occur if you catch an unexpected edge with your ski, causing your knee to twist unexpectedly, which can lead to a ligament tear. The meniscus of the knee, which is responsible for absorbing shock, may also be injured.

Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are also rather common in skiing because, when falling, instinct often has you reaching out your arms in an attempt to break the fall. However, this can result in excessive force sustained by your shoulder, leading to injuries such as dislocation, a sprain, or bone fracture.

Wrist and Thumb Injuries
Since it’s natural to reach out to break a fall, this can also put your wrist at risk of injury since it is the first to absorb the force of the fall.

Skiier’s thumb is an injury specific to skiing, which consists of a sprained or dislocated thumb. It is named as such because it can occur if you fall and land on your hands while still holding your ski pole, which can cause a ligament in the thumb, the UCL, to tear.

Head Injuries
When falling, there’s always a risk of a head injury, which is why helmets are crucial gear for those who ski.

Preventing Skiing Injuries
Given the types of skiing injuries, it’s clear that falls are the most common cause, and falls can occur if you’re pushing yourself too hard. For those who only ski occasionally, be sure to ease onto the slopes rather than go for the hardest first. This way, your body can get reacclimated with the motions needed to safely make it down the mountain. Remember to take breaks when your body needs it, and always ski with a partner so that, if an injury occurs, someone is there to help.

When skiing, it’s also important to wear the proper equipment. Helmets, in particular, can help protect your head in the case of a fall.

If you’re injured while skiing, don’t hesitate to reach out for help—the sooner your injury is cared for, the sooner you can safely get back on the slopes. Orthopedic Associates is here to help with all your skiing injury needs so that you can live your life fully; Dr. Eric J. Lindberg is an expert on ankle-related injuries, while Dr. Andrew W. Parker can help with the most common site of skiing injuries: the knees.