Wintersports are recreational or competitive activities that take place in the snow. These sports can be either individual or team sports and were traditionally played in cold areas during winter. However, due to increased popularity in recent decades, artificial snow and ice are being used to hone the sports.
Wintersports are played up to the highest professional level and can be extreme on the athletes that compete in them both mentally and physically.
Skiing
Skiing refers to any activity undertaken on skis. From alpine skiing in European resorts, to freestyle riding on artificial snow, to dropping out of helicopters into backcountry bowls; this umbrella term covers them all. It’s well known for being a very sociable sport, as well as an accident prone one. For a long time, skiing was also seen as an elitist sport. With the emergence or artificial snow centres, cheaper European travel and a more free-thinking attitude, skiing has become a much more inclusive sport.
Minor injuries, including twists and sprains, are relatively common in alpine and piste skiing and as expected, the more someone skis, the more likely they are to get injured at some point.
Knee injuries are particularly typical, with many more seasoned skiers than any other group of people suffering from Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries. The ACL is one of four ligaments that help stabilise the knee. In skiing, when the knee is straightened and twisted at the same time, the ACL can be easily injured. If the ligament is badly damaged, it may require surgery. The best way to avoid an ACL injury is through practicing good skiing techniques and not pushing your boundaries too hard.
Snowboarding
For many winter sports fans, snowboarding is the much younger, less stylish, and more dangerous sibling to skiing. However, as snowboarding turns 40 and with its inclusion in the Olympics, more people are choosing to give it a go. In its simplest terms, snowboarding is an alternative winter mountain sport using one board instead of two skis. Riders use the edges of their board in combination with their weight to control their movement, just as skiers do with their skis.
Resort figures show that on any day, twice as many snowboarders report injuries as skiers. Half of these injuries occur to novice boarders in their first two weeks of snowboarding, making the learning process sound like a painful one.
Common Skiing Knee Brace Questions
Should I wear a knee brace while skiing?
It’s personal choice, but they can be of great benefit, especially for passionate skiers that may have experienced a previous knee injury. They are designed to protect against ligament damage, whilst offering stability following a previous injury to minimise the risk of a reoccurrence.
What is the best knee brace for skiing?
It depends on what you need from a skiing brace. If you’re looking to protect your knee from impact damage, then you need something rigid and manufactured from something like carbon fibre which is extremely strong yet lightweight. If you’ve suffered ligament damage previously and need some additional support, then you can either opt for the rigid brace (to minimise the risk of another injury) or a soft support with straps. The straps on a skiing knee support act as external ligaments to offer additional compression and stability.
Is it ok to wear a knee brace all day? / Is it bad to wear a knee brace all day?
It depends on what you’re doing. If you’re skiing all day, we recommend you wear your skiing brace on the slopes. If you’ve finished for the day or sitting enjoying a bite to eat at lunch, then it’s ok to take it off. As a rule, you only need to wear your brace when you need it, so follow this and you’ll be fine.
Is skiing bad for the knee?
Skiing and snowboarding can be high impact on the knees, but so are other extreme sports and even running. Technique has a lot to do with it, so not landing from a jump with straight legs all the time helps. What is potentially bad for the knees when skiing is a fall, with ligament damage as the most common injury. A skiing knee brace can be used to protect the knee from damage in the event of a fall or offer stability and protection against a pre-existing injury.
How do I strengthen my knees for skiing?
You can strengthen your knees through exercise. Strengthening your thighs can help reduce the pressure on your knees. If you’re worried about your knees on the slopes, then perhaps consider a skiing knee brace which can protect against impact damage from a fall as well as offering you stability.
What helps knee pain after skiing?
Knee pain is a very general term and requires a specific diagnosis to determine the root cause of the problem and the best course of action. Following any injury, it’s important to follow the RICE principles in rest, ice, compression, and elevation. If you’ve suffered an overuse injury, then a skiing knee support can help through compression (to help manage inflammation). To minimise the risk of injury following a crash or fall, we recommend to wear a rigid knee brace.
How do I know if a need a brace?
If you’re looking to protect your knee against injury, then wearing a brace is your decision. As far as preventative (or prophylactic) bracing then you’re looking at a rigid brace, something like the CTi.
If you’ve suffered a previous knee injury, a brace can be worn to help with your activity whilst also reducing the risk of causing further injury. The injury you’ve suffered and the activity you want to do will determine the type of brace required. If we’re talking extreme or high impact sports and ligament protection, then the CTi ticks both boxes.
Do knee braces help skiing?
Do they help you ski like an Olympic athlete? No.
Do they help to protect against impact damage and minimise the risk of ligament damage? Yes.
Ligament damage is one of the most common forms of skiing injury and with an ACL injury potentially putting you out of action for up to 9 months. Our philosophy is that it’s better to prevent an injury.
What is a good knee brace for skiing?
The best knee brace for skiing is the one which suits you best in terms of feel, fit and without restricting movement; something lightweight and strong to help protect your knee against impact damage following a crash or a fall.
How do you protect your knees when skiing?
The simple answer is to stay safe and don’t fall or crash. Whilst we never plan for it, accidents happen. A skiing knee brace is designed to offer protection when on the slopes. The rigid carbon fibre design of the CTi helps to protect against impact damage and minimise the risk of (recurring) ligament injuries.
What is the most common injury in skiing?
Common injuries from skiing range from cuts and bruises to sprains, strains, and broken bones.
The top 5 injuries include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture or sprain.
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) rupture or sprain.
- Shoulder sprains, fractures, and dislocations.
- Wrist and thumb fractures.
- Head injuries, whiplash, and concussion.
How do you not tear your ACL when skiing?
The easy answer is don’t ski. Obviously, this is not the fun option.
A skiing knee brace can be worn to protect the knee against unnatural movements. The rigid shell design minimises the risk of damage to the ACL.
CTi Wintersports Athletes
Katie Summerhayes
World Championship Freestyle Skiing Silver Medallist
Katie Ormerod
British Pro Snowboarder
Billy Morgan
Professional Snowboarder