Skiing & Winter Sports

As the anticipation of the first run down the mountain nears, ski enthusiasts of all levels should be preparing their knees and legs to reduce their chances incurring a skiing related injury. Please read on below for more background for a story about one of the most common ski related injuries to the ACL. Let your readers learn first from you about why injury to the ACL is common for skiers, how to reduce the risks of this kind of injury, how to know if you have experienced an ACL injury and what to do if you do injury your ACL.
This is a timely news subject as the ski season opens. Please let me know if this is news you are interested in covering or if it fits in with a larger story on preventing skiing and/or sports related injury. I am happy to hook you up with a leading sports orthopaedist and official orthopaedic surgeon for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams.

Greenwich, CT & New York, NY (PRWEB) November 24, 2004 — For ski enthusiasts anticipating another exciting season on the slopes, preparations usually include buying lift tickets and readying equipment. But experts warn that too many skiers are leaving a critical task off of their To-Do lists: preparing their legs and knees for an injury-free season.

According to Kevin Plancher, MD, a leading sports orthopaedist in the New York metropolitan area and official orthopaedic surgeon for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams, injury to the anterior cruciate ligament – the ACL – is one of the most common ski-related knee injuries. In addition, even as overall ski-related injury numbers have decreased over the past two decades, ACL injuries have been on the rise – accounting for more than a quarter of all reported ski-related injuries each year.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is the more prominent of the two ligaments that connect the femur (thigh bone) with the tibia (shin bone) beneath the kneecap. Under ski conditions the ACL is most likely to be pulled either partially away from the femur or tears in half. This occurs while skiing because of short and fast decelerations or a turn at a sharp angle. Ski-related ACL injuries usually are sustained in one of three ways:

- An out-of control, off-balance or falling skier attempting to either regain cover control or sit down to recover may suffer a ‘Phantom foot’ injury. The knee twists and bends in flexion and internal rotation, forcing the shinbone forward onto the thighbone and causing trauma to the ACL.

- A direct hit to the lower leg from behind, often from an out of control skier, can also result in an ACL injury.

- Injury can also occur during jumps, particularly when the landing is off balance with the knee extended. The tail of the ski hits the ground first, forcing the back of the boot against the calf, pushing the shinbone forward, and tearing the ACL. The last run of the day and often on Catwalks, is the most common place for a knee injury.

Three Steps to Avoid Injury

According to Dr. Plancher, avoiding injury is a step-by-step process. “There are a few different ways to reduce risk,” he explains. “The more you do to prepare for the ski season, the more your risk will be reduced.” He recommends:

- Purchasing or renting equipment that is appropriate for both your size and your skill level. “Be honest with yourself about your capabilities,” he urges.

- Selecting appropriate trails, and correcting poor skiing techniques. “Again, be honest with yourself about your abilities. Take a quick lesson or evaluation from resort staff before you ski, if you want an expert’s advice about which hills to try… and which ones to avoid.”

- Staying aware and alert on the slopes. “Avoid skiers who are engaging in risky behavior, such as alcohol use or trick skiing, and don’t engage in these activities yourself. Stay on well-lit, well-patrolled trails, so that you’ll have access to trained resort professionals if you do fall.”

“Prehabilitation” is the Name of the Game