Our physiotherapists are experienced in treating and more importantly, helping to prevent injuries that can happen on the slopes.
As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, many of us will be counting down the days until we can take part in our annual pilgrimage to the mountains. Bags packed? Skis waxed? Insurance sorted? But how ready are you really for a week in the snow?
One week in the snow or 3 months on the physio bed?
Book in now prior to your holiday to make sure you are ski fit & ready to make the most of your time on the slopes, without injury getting in the way.
A CSPC physiotherapist will assess you from head to toe and set you an exercise programme to ensure you are ready to hit the slopes.Â
What can we do at CSPC?
Here at CSPC we can look to address any risk factors that make you susceptible to injury to ensure you spend more time skiing and less time on the physio bed. Our highly trained physios will work through a thorough assessment process to identify areas of the body that are key to skiing, including;
- Ankle range (dorsiflexion) / shin angle
- Hip mobility & ability to move the trunk separately from the pelvis
- Hip strength and capacity
- Core strength – Core is King
- Thigh muscular strength and capacity – Fit for one run, one day or one week?
- Balance / proprioception
- Muscle flexibility deficits
- General fitness and training plans
We then bring this together to produce a plan to help you to get fitter, healthier and stronger for skiing. This may include specific strengthening or stretching exercises, exercises to help you move better, or advice on how you can steadily build your fitness. This may include advice on seeking further treatment for specific injuries or referral on to other specialists if required.
Final points
Skiing is all about having fun in the mountains and that’s what takes us back to the mountains year after year. Below are a few points to consider
If you don’t normally exercise daily for a week, it may be worth gradually increasing your levels of exercise prior to your trip, looking to work on both strength and endurance.
Warm up and warming up. Before getting off a chair lift and straight down a run, make sure your body is ready for what your about to do. A simple warm up in your hotel can make the world of difference. Also ensure you have plenty of warm layers for long and cold chair lifts to save your muscles cooling down between runs.
Last run syndrome – Most injuries occur when you are tired and your muscles do not have the capacity left to protect your joints. If you feel tired, you probably ARE tired. That one last run can wait until tomorrow.
If it’s been a while since your last trip, make sure you take it easy and ski within your limits until you’ve found your feet. If you can, it might be worth booking a lesson or two to make sure you have not picked up any bad habits.
Recovery is key. Whilst it’s important to have fun and enjoy everything that a ski holiday has to offer both on and off the hill, it’s also important to look after your body. Sleeping 8-10hours a night, drinking plenty of water (1L per 1-2hrs) and stretching out tight muscles at the start and end of each day can help keep you going for your whole holiday.
Poor technique + fatigue (+ over confidence) = Injury
Cost: A 90-minute Ski Fitness MOT including assessment, treatment and a detailed report is £200 with a physiotherapist.
For more information, to check availability and book please call a member of the admin team on 0113 2750606
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