Skis are Hard on the Knees

January 14, 2008

LOS ANGELES - January 14, 2008 -Last week’s storms that ripped through Southern California sent skiers and snowboarders racing for the mountains. Zipping down the slopes may be thrilling but, as with all high impact sports, comes with some risk of injury.

“Skiing is pretty hard on the knees. The constant twisting, stopping and turning movements and tight bindings can be tough on the anterior cruciate ligament, or commonly known as the ACL, in the knee, ” says C. Thomas Vangsness Jr., M.D., professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Keck of School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. “The worst case scenario would be tearing of the ACL. That can lead to pain, swelling and unstable walking. The ACL doesn’t heal on it’s own so patients will eventually need a reconstruction.”

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, many winter sports injuries happen at the end of the day when people overexert themselves to finish that one last run. Staying in shape and knowing when to rest are a couple of important tips to prevent a majority of these injuries.

The AAOS recommends the following tips for preventing winter sports injuries:

• Keep in shape and condition muscles before partaking in winter activities.
• Warm up thoroughly before playing. Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable to injury.
• Wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles, helmets, gloves and padding.
• Check that equipment is in good working order and used properly.
• Know and abide by all rules of the sport in which you are participating.
• Take a lesson (or several) from a qualified instructor, especially in sports like skiing and snow boarding. Learning how to fall correctly and safely can reduce the risk of injury.

“Recovery from an ACL injury involves intelligent work with a physical therapist and a good home exercise program,” says Vangsness. “See your doctor immediately if you injure yourself. If you do require surgery, it takes usually three months to return to jogging and six to nine months before returning to any sport.”

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