We’ve past our shortest day of the year and the days are still cold, but it’s not all doom and gloom out there, we are in the middle of a large snowstorm in the Alps!
But with this excitement sometimes comes the disappointment of injury. Each year at Fairfield Physiotherapy we see many snow-related injuries influx into the clinic, often on a Monday morning after a weekend at Mt Buller, Mt Hotham or Falls Creek. Most injuries either happen very early in the day, or later in the day, and there are a few reasons why this is the case.
Physical preparation is key for snow sport if we want to reduce our risk of injury and enjoy it to our full potential. We wouldn’t attempt a 20km run from no training, so why do we think we can ski for 8 hours straight, again with no training?
At Fairfield Physiotherapy we offer a comprehensive Ski-body Assessment for all skier types run by our own Olympic Winter Institute Physiotherapist, Ben Bond. We have had great success in preparing skiers and boarders for this Australian Winter. The Ski-body Assessment is perfect for:
- Injured skiers & boarders wanting to return to the slopes ASAP
- Skiers/Boarders wanting to reduce injury risk on the snow
- Those struggling with ski/snowboard fitness, discomfort, aches and pains
- New skiers & boarders wanting to gain snow specific conditioning/strength
- Those wanting to increase physical performance on the snow
At Fairfield Physiotherapy we specialize in the following snow-related injuries:
- Wrist fractures/sprains
- Knee Ligament Injuries
- “Skier’s thumb”
- Concussion
- Shoulder dislocations
The good news is that a lot of these injuries can be avoided with appropriate physical preparation and extra care on the slopes. My motto relating to snow sports concerns: If in doubt, have yourself checked out…
Take care and enjoy the snow!
To schedule a Ski-body Assessment or get more advice on staying safe in the snow, book an appointment online with our Olympic Winter Institute Physiotherapist, Ben Bond, or call 94897744.
