For those who love snow holidays, Knee sprain while skiing is the most frequent injury. And this applies to both expert skiers and simple enthusiasts. According to reports from the National Mountain Accident Surveillance System (SIMON), coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, every year over 30 thousand accidents are recorded on the slopes and, of these, 1,500 require hospital care (5%). Accidents which, as the data confirm, involve more men (55.4%) than women (44.5%) and in 50% of cases occur within the age of 30, while two thirds occur within the age of 40. And that’s not all. While as many as 65% of injuries occur in conditions of good visibility, therefore not attributable to bad weather, approximately 10% are due to collisions with other skiers.
Risk of skiing injuries
Choosing to spend your winter holidays in the mountains is a must. The ski slopes are a strong attraction for snow lovers. “Regardless of the skill level, it is necessary to always pay close attention because the risk of incurring an injury is quite recurrent” specifies the Doctor Lorenzo Castellaniorthopedic surgeon, expert in reconstructive and sports surgery of the major joints and supporter of the Chirugiarticolare project.
Knee sprain while skiing is the most frequent injury
All sporting activities are at risk of injury and many put a strain on several joints. “The most frequent trauma is, without a shadow of a doubt, knee sprain”, says Dr. Castellani who continues “this is among the most common and most painful injuries. We are talking about knee inflammation that can be caused by trauma such as a fall, or direct trauma. This is an abnormal twist of the knee. The foot remains anchored to the ski, while the rest of the lower limb turns. This abnormal movement which partially causes the correct relationships between joints to be lost can be benign or cause damage.”
Knee sprains on skis: the damage that can be found
In the event of distortions, the damage that may occur is:
Stretching of the joint capsule which is usually the first thing that happens when the knee turns. In this case we are talking about traumas that only generate inflammation and pain, but which do not cause permanent damage.
Damage to the menisci. They occur when the knee twists and goes beyond the capsular damage. The stress can cause simple inflammation of the tissue or even break it. Often it is the internal meniscus, less so the internal one.
Ligament damage. If the twisting of the knee exceeds a certain intensity, the ligaments are also affected or may tear. If you hear a mechanical noise as your knee twists, it is most likely broken. There are several types of knee ligament sprains. The most common is that of the anterior cruciate.
Cartilage damage. If the force with which the knee turns is such that it is not even dampened by the rupture of the ligaments, the joint comes into violent contact leading to cartilage damage.
Knee sprain while skiing: what to do in case of injury?
“Regardless of the type of trauma we have incurred, the first reaction of the joint is to trigger inflammation. It is therefore necessary to immediately limit the intensity in order to obtain relief in the short term”, explains Dr. Castellani who continues “the first thing to do is to rest the limb and not overload the knee unnecessarily. To help reduce inflammation, I recommend using ice, never in direct contact with the skin and never for more than 15/20 consecutive minutes, several times a day. Many also benefit from compression so go ahead with bandaging the knee. Finally, I recommend keeping the knee raised during sleep and 2-3 times during the day, this promotes the reabsorption of edema and improves blood circulation. After about 3 days if swelling and inflammation have subsided, the pain could now derive from stiffness or contractures which we can relieve with hot compresses. We can use topical anti-inflammatories such as creams or clay or take them orally upon medical indication. However, if the pain persists and does not decrease in intensity, it will be necessary to check the extent of the trauma with a specialist. In any case, following a trauma, it will then be necessary to undertake a rehabilitation process.”
As in any activity, proper athletic preparation is essential. It is important to strengthen the muscles, especially those muscles that will be most involved. In the case of skiing it is necessary to strengthen the quadriceps in order to have good control of the movement and consequently a more stable joint. In this regard you can read 10 easy preski exercises that you can do at home.
With the right preparation, small precautions and common sense, descents on the ski slopes will be more fun and safer.
READ ALSO: Exercises that are good for your knees recommended by the expert
Photo by Laura Corredor / Patrick Hendry / Glade Optics
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2024-01-01 13:25:57
#Knee #sprain #skiing
