Paul Hamilton, Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ashtead Hospital talks us through his guide to how you can try to prevent the most common ski injuries
Common Ski Injuries
Ankle twists and sprains are frequent, even with supportive ski boots. Fractures, such as the snowboarder’s ankle (lateral talar process fracture), are also common. Overuse injuries like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and peroneal tendinopathy can also develop.
Paul’s Top Tips
Warm Up – Stretch and do light exercises before hitting the slopes
Perfect Your Technique
– Avoid jerky movements, especially in icy, slushy or poor visibility conditions
Know Your Limits – Know your ability level and take a break to allow muscles to recover
Strengthen Muscles
– Pre-conditioning your legs, including balance will allow you to build resilience and prevent overuse injuries
Stay Hydrated – Dehydration causes fatigue, increasing injury risk
Avoid Alcohol – Alcohol impairs judgement and dehydrates you
Rest When Tired – Most injuries occur after lunchtime when fatigue sets in
Gear Check – Always wear a helmet to stay safe and ensure your boots fit snugly, use custom insoles if needed, and have bindings set correctly
If injured, seek immediate medical help at the resort – they’ll know the nearest hospital. On return, you can arrange a full diagnosis if needed. Ashtead Hospital offers expert diagnosis and treatment by specialists.
To find out more call 01372 888 685
or visit ramsayhealth.co.uk.
Mr Paul Hamilton is a highly experienced Orthopaedic Consultant who has been practising for over 14 years. He has a wealth of experience in the diagnosis and management of all foot and ankle pain. He specialises in adult foot and ankle surgery and trauma surgery, including forefoot reconstruction, arthroscopy and Achilles injuries, and is an expert in treating sport injuries, Morton’s neuroma, arthritis and bunions.

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