| Have you ever hurt your knee while you were on | | | | drawer" scenarios can predispose an ACL injury. |
| ths slopes? | | | | Approximately 66 - 70 % (nearly 2/3) of all ACL |
| We hope your answer is "no". | | | | ruptures are thought to be caused by the Phantom |
| If you have hurt your knee while skiing, or at least | | | | Foot mechanism. The P.F. mechanism involves the |
| have seen someone injure their knee then you will | | | | simultaneous combination of: (1) an inward twisting of |
| lean more about what happens in these injuries in this | | | | the knee and thigh relative to the foot; (2) abduction |
| article. | | | | (the foot moves away from midline, relative to the |
| When a person gets into an accident on the slopes | | | | knee) (3) your weight line is posterior to (behind) |
| and it involves their knee, chances are that this | | | | your knee. It is not necessary to be going fast down |
| person has injured either their MCL (Medial collateral | | | | a steep slope to suffer this kind of injury. |
| ligament) or your ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament). | | | | Boot induced anterior drawer |
| Knee swelling can result with this kind of injury, and if | | | | The acronym (BIAD) refers to the boot induced |
| left untreated this can be a real problem. We will give | | | | anterior drawer mechanism. The BIAD occurs when a |
| you some useful information here regarding these | | | | skiers lands occurs when someone is trying to do a |
| two knee injuries; describing how they can occur and | | | | jump, but the skier lands off balanced to the rear. |
| some ways to help avoid a knee injury occurence. | | | | The skier may try to counter act this force moment |
| Medial Collateral Ligament Sprains | | | | and straighten their legs fully. After landing on the tail |
| A MCL injury is the most commont type of alpine ski | | | | end of the ski, the boot presses against the |
| injury. It accounts for nearly one quarter (1/4) of all | | | | posterior calf, thus pushing the tibia forward in |
| injuries in this sport. Usually, it will affect the beginner | | | | relationship to the person's femur. In essence, the |
| and low-intermediate skier. | | | | portion of your leg below your knee is pushed |
| Often times, people suffer an MCL injury while in the | | | | forward excessively in relationship to your thigh |
| beginner's snowplough position. This means that the | | | | (above the knee). This can result in an ACL tear. |
| front of the skiis are pointing toward eachother. (The | | | | In order to help avoid knee injuries, it is |
| technical term for this in the medical field is that your | | | | recommended that you land with your knees flexed |
| legs are in "valgus".) Essentially, when their is too | | | | (avoiding knee extension). In addition, if you are still |
| much valgus force being applied to your knee joint an | | | | sliding, do not try to get up until you stop. Keep your |
| MCL injury can occur. If your skis criss cross | | | | arms up and forward, so your weight does not fall |
| awkwardly, or the snowplough stance develops into | | | | backward. Land on both skis as well; this will help |
| a fall, this could be the force needed to cause the | | | | avoid injury. |
| MCL injury. | | | | The potential protective role for knee braces. |
| If you have a grade one or two sprain, many times a | | | | In the American Journal of Sports Medicine entitled |
| person will be placed into a splint that holds their | | | | "Effect of Functional Bracing on Knee Injury in Skiers |
| leg(s) in extension. These will be worn, at least until | | | | With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction - A |
| the pain and swelling diminish. A grade three tear may | | | | Prospective Cohort Study". In this particular study, |
| require surgical repair and the use of a substantial | | | | 257 skier-employees with ACL reconstructions wore |
| knee brace to help provide support. | | | | knee braces and 563 skier-employees with ACL |
| If you wish to prevent such an occurence, it is a | | | | reconstructions did not. As a result, it was noted that |
| good idea to to do some preseason conditioning. | | | | sixty-one subsequent knee injuries were identified, 51 |
| Strengthening your quadriceps will help prevent an | | | | of which were in the non braced group and 10 in the |
| MCL injury. Strengthening workouts should always be | | | | braced group. It was noted that the non braced |
| coordinated with the guidance of a health care | | | | skiers were 2.74 times more likely to suffer |
| professional. Performing maintenance for correct | | | | subsequent injury than were braced skiers. The |
| binding and release settings are suggested. | | | | authors of this study noted that functional bracing |
| Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Sprains | | | | for skiers with anterior cruciate ligament |
| ACl injuries account for approximately 10-15% of all | | | | reconstruction should be recommended after seeing |
| ski injuries, depending on the study you cite | | | | this data. They did point out that the data could not |
| (sometimes the numbers are higher). Often times, | | | | necessarily be transfered exactly to other sporting |
| when this ligament is injured, the MCL will also be | | | | activities. |
| injured. | | | | [Reference - American Journal of Sports Medicine 1 |
| The "phantom-foot" and the "boot-induced anterior | | | | October 2006; Vol. 34, No. |