“According to the most recent data from the Higher Institute of Health, there were 30 000 accidents on ski slopes in 2019; 1,500–1,700 of the accidents required hospitalization. Then, 55% of males and 45% of women who are involved in accidents end up needing surgery. The age range from 30 to 40 is the one that is most actively involved. Following the pandemic, we have seen an upsurge in the stress suffered by those who have started skiing again without the necessary physical preparation. We frequently refer to these traumas as distortion traumas. Similar to Siot, we attempt to emphasize that in order to prevent damages while skiing, proper muscular preparation and exercising sensitivity to sporting gestures are important. Alberto Momoli, president of Siot, the Italian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology, explained this to Adnkronos Salute.
The knee is the one that is increasingly affected. “In recent years there has been a huge technological progress in ski equipment, a leap that has made it possible to avoid numerous fractures to the detriment of the ligament system,” explains Momoli. Because of the equipment available today, which enables the release of the binding and aids in limiting the energy related to the trauma, we frequently see sprain injuries. Fractures now make up 7% of all injuries due to the removal of tools that remained connected to the ankle. However, when it comes to skiing, the cruciate ligament of the knee might be sprained. He notes that because snowboarders frequently utilize their hands after using the board that wrist fractures are more common in the sport. The shoulder is another area where trauma can occur; rotator cuff injuries, sprains, and dislocations are common.
The president of Siot then emphasizes how younger people are less concerned with skiing accidents. He recalls that because they move more slowly down the slopes and are more elastic, they are better able to absorb the kinetic energy of accidents. They also tend to be in higher physical condition. On the slopes, nevertheless, they also exhibit more lack of discipline, especially among beginners, which causes significant accidents.