| Have you ever hurt yourself while skiing? | | | | ligament fibres are torn. |
| Do you ever suffer from knee pain when you ski? | | | | Grade 2 : Moderate laxity in the ligament, but there is |
| While the development of release binding has been | | | | a definite endpoint present. This means that some |
| very useful in reducing the incidence of fractures to a | | | | but not all of the ligament fibers may be torn. |
| person's lower leg bones, knee injuries are still | | | | Grade 3 : A complete give in the ligament occurs. All |
| common for skiers. The knee joint and its associated | | | | ligament fibres are torn. |
| ligaments, menisci, and bony structures has been | | | | If you notice any of the following symptoms after |
| cited as causing 30-40 % of all alpine ski injuries. | | | | you have injured your knee get to a physician asap! |
| While most knee injuries have a good prognosis | | | | 1.) Obvious deformity occurs at the knee |
| (prognosis : probable course and outcome of a | | | | 2.) Absolute inability to weight bear on the involved |
| disease), some knee injuries can lead to significant | | | | limb. |
| functional impairment and may unfortunately | | | | 3.) A large degree of edema (swelling) in the knee |
| terminate a person's skiing career. Appropriate | | | | joint within a couple of hours of injury |
| treatment of such an injury is essential for the best | | | | 4.) An inability to bring your knee into full extension - |
| recovery possible. | | | | ie to make it straight. This is sometimes referred to |
| The majority of knee injuries involve one or more of | | | | as "locked knee" |
| the knee's ligaments, when a person is skiing. The | | | | 5.) Lastly, there is a severe tenderness when you |
| MCL (medial collateral ligament) and the ACL (Anterior | | | | press on a specific area of the knee. |
| cruciate ligament) are the most common ligaments | | | | As a result of such an knee injury, knee braces can |
| injured among this skiers. If you feel like you have | | | | help protect your knee from further injury. Not only |
| injured your knee and are curious as to what your | | | | can they protect your knee, they can provide |
| physician will test for, read through our list of sprain | | | | meaningful support that to your knee if you suffer |
| "Grades"... Below is a list of "Grades" that your | | | | from knee pain in general, or even knee arthritis. |
| physician may give to such a knee injury, each grade | | | | In conclusion, we hope that you never have a knee |
| has a specific meaning based on a numerical scale. | | | | injury, but our goal is to teach you about knee |
| Grade 1 : No laxity (ie. give) in the ligament when | | | | injuries and how to help treat them if you have |
| stressed. This essentially means that few if any | | | | suffered one. |