The winter season offers us an opportunity to engage in outdoor winter sports and activities, like skiing. Whether you are a professional skier or a beginner, the risk of injury while skiing is high due to the nature of the sport with its combination of high speeds, dynamic and unpredictable environment, mechanics of the equipment and individual factors.
Data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program[i] [ii] (CHIRPP) capturing information from 20 emergency departments across Canada between October 1, 2016 and January 11, 2024, reported 5,434 alpine skiing-related injuries.
In this blog, we will focus on the most common upper extremity skiing injuries(iii), including wrist or forearm fractures, wrist sprains, skier’s thumb (thumb sprain). We will also talk about measures you can take to prevent these types of injuries while skiing and how hand therapy can work to restore function in the hand, wrist and arm.
Table of Contents:
Wrist and forearm fractures or wrist sprain
This type of injury often occurs during a fall, when the skier places their hands out to protect themselves thereby adding an extra stress on the wrist/hands.
A sprain involves damage to the ligaments that connect the wrist bones, while a fracture involves a break or crack in one or more of the wrist bones.
Symptoms of these injuries include pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the wrist.
A proper physical examination and X-Ray is necessary for diagnosis. Other imaging tests such as CT or MRI may be required to best define the extend and severity of the injury and define the treatment required.
Treatment:
It depends on the type and severity of the injury but often includes:
- RICE Method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation to reduce swelling and pain.
- Immobilization: Use a splint or cast to keep the wrist in a stable position.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to repair the ligaments.[iii]
The recovery time varies but usually takes months. The doctor will define the immobilization timeframe and when the treatment with your occupational or physiotherapist should start.
Regardless of the immobilization period, it is very important to prevent stiffness in the fingers by keeping the fingers moving respecting the limitation of the cast or splint, pain and swelling.
Hand therapy will follow the treatment protocols for the injury of the wrist and will include range of motion exercises, strengthening, proprioception and dynamic tasks to foster the return of the upper extremity function.
Skier’s Thumb (Thumb Sprain)
This type of sprain injury is also known as skier’s thumb. It is the injury of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb located near to the second joint from the tip to the base of your thumb (metacarpophalangeal joint).
It usually occurs when the skier falls. The ski pole causes a stress at the thumb’s joint overstretching the ligament. The skier feels pain in the inner part of the thumb and the trauma can cause a partial or complete tear of the ligament.
Skier’s Thumb Treatment
Based on the severity of the injury the treatment will be recommended. It is a partial tear, a cast or splint is required as well as a rehabilitation treatment offered by your occupational or physiotherapist is recommended to regaining the stability and strength when using the thumb for grasping, holding an object or pinching.
If the ligament injury is a complete tear, a surgical intervention may be required and a detailed assessment by a hand specialist is needed to define the treatment plan to repair the ligament before a rehabilitation process.
General Wrist and Hand Skiing Injury Prevention Tips
- Follow personal safety wearing appropriate clothing and safety equipment
- Ensure your gear is in good condition
- Avoid using the ski pole strap that usually goes around your wrist or poles with saber handles as it makes easier to release the ski pole from the hand during the fall and prevent unnecessary strain on the thumb.
- Use wrist guards decreases the potential wrist injury or the severity of the injury.
- Prioritize pre-season conditioning and strength training. Talk to your personal trainer and physiotherapist for specific suggestions.[iv]
Talk to the team at Propel who can prepare you for the skiing season or help you during the treatment needs if an injury occurs.
