Ski injuries on the rise
Ski trips are increasingly popular among Hong Kong people, many of whom now choose to have a first taste of the sport overseas during their Lunar New Year holiday. However, the number of ski-related injuries among those who came back from their trips has risen over the past few years. The types of reported injuries range from minor sprains to bone fractures.
According to overseas studies, roughly 3-9 injuries occur to every 1,000 skiers, and the chances of sustaining an injury is usually the highest on the last day of a ski trip. As the position of the skier’s feet and ankles are fixed in ski boots, any excessive force experienced by the skier would be transferred to the knees. Cruciate ligament injuries of the knee are the most common among all ski-related injuries, making up about 48% of the total number of reported cases.
Other ski-related injuries include traumas in the forearm, wrist and ankle. Bone fractures of different degrees, joint dislocation, compartment syndrome and spinal injuries are also not uncommon.
To prevent ski injuries, skiers should wear proper safety gear such as helmets, wrist guards and knee cushions. Having adequate training before the trip and performing warm-up and stretching exercises right before skiing would also greatly reduce the chances of injury.