07/01/2014

Press release

Skiing: Tips and tricks to avoid injuries on the ski slopes.

© ARochau/Fotolia

Trauma and orthopaedic surgeons of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU) have compiled recommendations that skiers should keep in mind on the skiing slope and in preparation of a skiing season. This includes adjustment of the ski binding by an expert and having your visual acuity checked by a physician for optimal vision under different weather conditions.

Regular ski exercises are equally important for injury prevention. Special training exercises for strengthening the muscles and improving coordination are particularly useful for elderly skiers and can prevent many injuries to the knee.

During the 2012/2013 skiing season, a total of 43 000 skiers was injured and needed medical aid, 3500 of them as in-patients in a hospital, according to the Evaluation Table for Skiing Accidents (ASU). Knee injuries head the table with 37 percent of all injuries. They are followed by injuries of the shoulder (20 percent), torso (8.7 percent), hip and thigh (7.4 percent) and head (7.2 percent). The last three skiing seasons showed a relatively constant total number of injuries, but 55 000 skiers were injured in the 2009/2010 skiing season. The risk of collision accidents increased slightly. The ASU data are noteworthy in that the share of collision injuries amounted to 16 percent of all injuries in 2012/2013, the highest number ever.

The most commonly treated skiing injury was a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Trauma surgeons are increasingly reporting severe bone fractures in addition to soft-tissue injuries. This mainly concerns fractures of the lower leg and the femur closely to the hip joint. Fractures of the tibia are caused by skiing errors that do not result in a release of the ski binding and expose the leg to considerable shear forces. The brittleness of bones increases with age, which also plays a role. Trauma surgeons have also observed more injuries due to jumps in fun parks or by skiing in places other than a prepared skiing slope. Falls with impact to the head and the spine tend to be particularly severe and have a long-term effect on health.

Orthopaedic and trauma surgeons have compiled the following hints to help skiers reducing the risk of falls and injuries:

On the skiing slope:  

  • Beginners should attend a skiing or snowboarding school to learn their type of sport.
  • The skiing style, equipment and clothing should suit your own skills. 
  • Maintain the ability to concentrate and physical capabilities by: sufficient energy supply, compensation for loss of liquid, particularly at high altitudes and abstaining from alcohol!
  • Increase safety by: wearing a ski helmet, wearing protectors (e.g. for spine or wrist), using different ski and sports goggles for different visibility and weather conditions.
  • Take note of signs of fatigue and adhere to recovery periods.
  • Warm up before the first ride or after a prolonged break.
  • Recognise risks and respond correctly: avoid icy slopes and slopes with wet snow (late afternoon), avoid overcrowded slopes, ride only on released and prepared slopes only! Stay away from closed slopes!

Before winter skiing:  

  • Perform skiing exercises for 30 minutes 2-3 times per week.
  • Check and maintain your skiing equipment and have the binding adjusted by an expert.
  • Have your visual acuity checked and wear your normal visual aids while skiing.
Further information
Further information

    Contact:

  • Susanne Herda
    Public relations
    German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma
    Straße des 17. Juni 106-108, 10623 Berlin
    Tel.: 030 – 340 60 36 06 oder -00
    Fax: 030 – 340 60 36 01
    Opens window for sending emailpresse@remove-this.dgou.de

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Opens window for sending emailSusanne Herda
Phone: +49 30 – 340 603 606

Opens window for sending emailSwetlana Meier
Phone: +49 30 – 340 603 616

Office

Straße des 17. Juni 106-108
10623 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 – 3406036-00
Fax: +49 30 – 3406036-01
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