Preventing injury and maximising performance in winter sports

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, the UK has 1.8m active skiers, defined as those who have participated in the sport in the previous 12 months. For many active holidaymakers, jetting off to the slopes in the midst of the miserable winter months is a boost to their mental and physical wellbeing; unless they spend too much time at the apres-ski of course. 

Winter sports aren’t a pursuit that should be taken lightly however. There is an inherent risk of serious injury, particularly to the lower body. A 2019 study of nine winter seasons showed that knee injuries were the most prevalent for skiers, making up 35% of all major incidents. Upper body injuries to the shoulder, head and neck are also common. 

How can winter sport athletes and hobbyists mitigate these risks? What supporting exercise should they prioritise? When injuries do hit, what does gold standard care look like? 

We’re joined by Tom Ulset and Charlotte Vaile. Both are physiotherapists with a passion for winter sports, and expertise in the treatment of its associated injuries. 

Here’s what we covered: 

• The most common injuries sustained on winter sports holidays (1:30)
• How skiers and snowboarders can mitigate those injuries (3:15)
• The steps an MDT may take in treating a serious knee injury like a torn ACL (7:45)
• If there are any specific steps skiers can take to prevent knee injuries and pain (12:00)
• How MDTs treat other common issues, in particular injuries sustained to the hand and shoulder joint (13:45) 
• How physios can keep their patients engaged in lengthy rehabilitation programmes (15:00)
• The importance of managing a patients’ mental health as they aim to return to their preferred sports (18:00)
• Why the social aspect of winter sports can help people enjoy their winter sports trip (22:15)
• How skiers can improve their conditioning and strength before a skiing holiday (25:00)
• The importance of flexibility and balance in preparing for winter sports (29:30) 
• Why a balanced approach to training is the best preparation for a winter sports holiday (33:30)

Speaker bios: 

Tom Ulset: https://puresportsmed.com/team/tom-ulset 

Charlotte Vaile: https://puresportsmed.com/team/charlotte-vaile 

Pure Sports Medicine is the UK’s leading provider of musculoskeletal, sport and exercise medicine, providing access to the highest standards of non-surgical medical care delivered by our team of world-class specialists working together all under one roof. Our team approach means efficient and effective treatment with same day referrals where needed to ensure you have the exact people around you that you need.

In this podcast we hand the mic to our team of experts including, Physiotherapists, Sport & Exercise Medicine consultants, Nutritionists, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, Soft Tissue Therapists and many more, to bring you the most up-to-date information and advice to help you achieve your sporting or fitness goals. We'll give you tips on avoiding injury and managing new or ongoing conditions with the goal of helping you get back to your best.

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