| Conditions seem to be shaping up nicely for this ski | | | | from a fall. The advances made in the design of skis |
| season and no doubt, many of you have booked | | | | have gone a long way to reducing the risk of broken |
| your annual week away on the slopes. However, | | | | legs, but not to ACL injuries. |
| there is always the nagging feeling in the back of | | | | Preventing injury: |
| your mind that it may be cut short due to injury. | | | | Check your equipment and the bindings regularly. |
| Death is rare and many of us sustain the occasional | | | | Ensure your boots fit well and keep them fastened: |
| minor injury, but most of us will have seen someone | | | | broken ankles OFF the slopes are pretty common. |
| being stretchered off the mountain from time to | | | | Consider wearing a helmet. There was a time when |
| time. Anything from sprained thumbs, dislocated | | | | cycle helmets were uncool, but they will save your |
| shoulders, fractures or head injuries could occur, but | | | | life. |
| the most common of all is the knee, accounting for | | | | Be aware of the conditions and the terrain. Late in |
| 25% of all injuries. | | | | the season, the early morning slopes are often icy, |
| Types of knee injuries: | | | | but by mid afternoon, the snow is like porridge. All |
| Apart from being taken out side-on, the knee is | | | | this will affect your skiing. |
| easily damaged from being twisted. The fact that | | | | This is a very physically demanding holiday, so |
| your foot and ankle are held rigid in the boot and the | | | | prepare yourself for it. Prepare your cardiovascular |
| ski means that if you "catch an edge" or get the ski | | | | system (cycling is good preparation) and improve |
| stuck during a fall, the foot and ankle stay fixed and | | | | your core strength and balance with Pilates and yoga. |
| the knee takes it. Injuries range from a simple | | | | Stop if you get tired. The second afternoon of a 6 |
| cartilage tear to a far more serious dislocation. The | | | | day break if the time when most accidents occur. |
| three most common injuries are:- | | | | Take frequent breaks and make sure you are eating |
| Meniscus tear: | | | | enough and keeping hydrated. |
| There are two menisci, one on the inside of the knee | | | | Don't drink on the slopes. A mug of mulled wine |
| and the other on the outside. They are pads of | | | | (have you tried Grand Marnier in it?) is tempting at |
| cartilage and they act as shock absorbers and | | | | lunch time, but save it for the evening. |
| stabilisers. If someone crashes into you, placing most | | | | Don't attempt a slope that is beyond your ability, |
| of the trauma to the outside of the knee, this is the | | | | even if someone is trying to persuade you. |
| kind of thing that could cause a meniscus problem. | | | | Take some lessons either before you go on holiday |
| Medial collateral ligament (MCL): | | | | or a few when you arrive. |
| Located to the inside of the knee, it is the kind of | | | | Keep your eyes open: the European slopes are |
| injury experienced by beginners because of the | | | | increasingly busy, especially during school holidays, and |
| position of the legs when snowploughing. | | | | many accidents occur by skiers being out of control |
| Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): | | | | and crashing into you. |
| Attributed mainly to more advanced skiers and often | | | | Don't forget your insurance! |