News Room  Press Releases
October 2006
Contact: Melissa Chefec, MCPR Public Relations, 203-968-6625
For Immediate Release
Don't Let Early Ski & Snowboard Injury Keep You Off the Slopes This Season:
U.S. Ski & Snowboard team doctor discusses common injuries and treatments to speed healing
NY, NY and Greenwich, CT, October 2006 – For the 28+ million Americans who take to the slopes each
winter on skis or snowboards, the autumn chill in the air and the first flakes of snow conjure excitement
for the winter sports season ahead. While most are well aware of the preparations that need to be made
beforehand to ensure safety – from pre-season strengthening and flexibility workouts to servicing
equipment – many ski and snowboard enthusiasts still approach the first few runs of the season with
some apprehension. The fear: An early-season injury that could relegate them to the lodge for the rest of
the winter.
"After months off the slopes, the body needs time and practice to readjust to the physical requirements of
skiing and boarding – even when participants have spent months training in advance of the season,"
explains Kevin Plancher, M.D., a leading NY-area orthopaedist and an official surgeon of the U.S. Ski and
Snowboard Teams. "This is a time when novice and expert alike, for different reasons, may be prone to
injury." Dr. Plancher explains that, while new skiers and boarders are likely to sustain an injury relating to
inexperience, the more advanced participants can become injured when attempting to do too much too
fast. "Expecting to jump right back in to the sport at the level at which they left off in March can get many
well-trained, experienced skiiers and boarders into trouble early in the season," Dr. Plancher warns.
Avoiding Early-Season Injury
Skiing and snowboarding are among the most physically demanding sports, due in large part to the stress
they place on the ligaments in the body. "Ligaments are the tough, fibrous structures that connect bone
structures together to form the joints," Dr. Plancher explains. "They are responsible for providing much of
the body’s flexibility, which is critical in a sport like downhill skiing or snowboarding." The most relied-upon
ligaments – and the most prone to injury – in skiing and snowboarding are those of the knees (about 25%
of all ski injuries), followed by the hands. "We frequently see early season injuries that affect the Anterior
Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and the Medial Meniscus in the knee, along with the ulnar collateral ligament
located at the base of the thumb webspace," Dr. Plancher explains. While knee ligament strains and tears
can occur during active skiing and boarding, most injuries to the thumb happen during a fall, when the
grip on the ski pole can jam the thumb backwards – causing an injury now known as "skier’s thumb."
Dr. Plancher recommends these steps that skiers and snowboarders can take during the first few
excursions of the season to reduce the risk of early injury.
- Get the lay of the land: Even if participants are visiting a resort they’ve skied or boarded before, Dr.
Plancher always recommends reviewing slope maps, lift systems and resort policies for any changes
that may have been made during the off-season. "Know key information, such as the location of first
aid stations and the guidelines regarding mid-run injuries," he advises, adding that injured skiiers and
boarders on the slopes can pose additional collision hazards to themselves and to others if they are
not quickly relocated to a safety zone.
- Take a refresher course: Whether you’re planning to while away the day on the bunny slope or
taking on the double-diamond, the first few outings are a prime time for a pre-ski lesson. "A brief 30-
minute group or private lesson provides an opportunity for novices to practice in a controlled situation,
and allows experts to hone skills that have lain dormant for months," Dr. Plancher points out. He
encourages skiers to practice falling safely as well, paying attention to the positioning of poles and
bindings to reduce risk of ligament strains. "What’s more, a lesson will give participants insight into
the particular resort’s topography, the day’s snow and weather conditions, and other variables that
can affect performance."
What to do if you sustain an early-season injury
"The good news," Dr. Plancher says, "is that most ski- and snowboard-related ligament injuries are not
serious." However, failing to recognize and properly treat minor injuries can cause them to manifest into
more complicated health issues. Following are guidelines for assessing and treating an early-season
injury to maximize recovery and hasten a return to the slopes:
- Recognize the injury: "The temptation to ski or board through an injury, especially in the first few
days of the season, is understandably high, because participants have been waiting for months to
return to a sport they love," Dr. Plancher concedes. "However, recognizing the injury and relieving
pressure on the ligaments immediately are critical to reducing the long-term affect of the injury and
getting them back onto the slopes as quickly as possible," he advises. Sudden pain after a fall or
during a maneuver in which the ligaments are in flex, or a "popping" sound at the knee followed by
acute pain, are signs of ligament injury and should prompt skiers and boarders to seek help in
evacuating the slope.
- RICE: Few sports enthusiasts are unfamiliar with this term, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression
and Elevation. Dr. Plancher recommends icing a sore joint in 30-minutes on/30-minutes off intervals
for up to three hours. "If swelling and pain remain the same or worsen during that time, patients
should seek medical attention," he advises.
- Consult an expert: Skiers and snowboarders who want the fastest possible return to the season
should consult an orthopedic sports medicine physician to evaluate the injury. "There are many
options – from physical therapy to orthopedic braces and other devices – that can help speed healing
and hasten a patient’s return to the slopes," Dr. Plancher reveals. "In addition, an orthopedic
specialist can provide a number of leading-edge surgical options that reduce both the invasiveness
and the recovery time usually associated with surgery," he explains. "It can be possible today to have
injuries surgically repaired in October or November, and be back on the slopes for the new year," Dr.
Plancher concludes.
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