Winter Fun
Im dreaming of a white Christmas and ski slopes. The winter season is upon us and the slopes of various skiing venues are white with snow. Plans are being made for annual ski trips and the winter gear is being pulled from the attic. You should also spend some time researching the various types of foot and ankle injuries that can occur while zipping down the slopes AND how to best prevent them.
Besides the obvious risks of being in a cold environment, there several types of injuries common with skiing and snowboarding: ankle/foot fractures, ankle/sprains, and ACL injury.
- Ankle/Foot Fracture the more common fractures seen while on the slopes are fibular (lateral malleolus) AND lateral process of the talus. The talus injury is more commonly seen in snow boarders. These injuries have been greatly reduced with the advent of a more solid/rigid type of ski boot.
- Ankle/Foot Sprains the lateral ankle ligaments are the more commonly injured. As mentioned in the previous point, these injuries are more common now due the creation of more rigid shoe gear.
- ACL Injuries modern ski boots transmit forces to the knee and thus account for the increased incidence in ACL injuries.
Injury risk is increased with improperly fitting ski boots. Your boot needs to fit both in length and width. Unless you have a major foot deformity that needs correction there is no need for orthotics. It would be better spending the money for better boots than for cheap boots and orthotics. A few other basic tips about ski boots:
- You dont need to wear multiple pairs of socks
- Skiing in your boots is preferable to borrowed boots
- Most importantly, make sure the boot is put on properly
If you have foot or ankle concerns, please contact Dr. Bowman at 713-467-8886 or visit www.houstonfootspecialists.com.
Category: Sports Injuries
Tags: Cold Weather, Footcare, Sports Injuries, Winter