Skiing is one of the most popular sports worldwide. But its popularity has not gone unnoticed by Mother Nature, who has a way of reminding us that we are not indestructible. If you suffer from bad knees, you may find that skiing is not as enjoyable as it could, or should, be. Is there a way to enjoy the white snow, the fresh air, and the company of your friends and family while being mindful of your body? We spoke to a professional ski instructor about how to ski with bad knees, and whether or not you should even consider giving it a go.
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The Perils Of The Pelvis
The crux of the problem is your pelvic alignment. If your hip joints are not aligned properly, your leg muscles will work harder than they have to, which could lead to overuse injuries or even arthritis. Let’s take a moment to review the basic anatomy of a pelvis and its surrounding bones. First, the pelvis is the basin or cup-shaped structure at the base of the hip bones. Like a china cabinet, it holds the hips in place and provides structural support to the thighs. The top of the pelvis connects to the spine via the sacrum, while the bottom connects to the legs via the coccyx.
As you may guess, a healthy pelvis is important for a healthy gait or walking pattern. But it’s also got a lot to do with the way you ski. Let’s look at some of the issues you may encounter due to an out-of-align pelvis.
Hip Dysplasia
One of the first issues you’ll encounter is hip dysplasia. If your hips are not aligned properly, either side may become dislocated, resulting in painful symptoms. Your hip joints may be more susceptible to damage from overuse, which in turn could lead to osteoarthritis. If you have hip dysplasia, or suspect you might, it’s best to avoid prolonged sitting or standing, and especially strenuous activity. Otherwise, it might be hard to avoid arthritis pain altogether.
Knee Displasia
Your other hip joint-related issue is knee displasia or degeneration. Just like with hip dysplasia, if your kneecaps are not aligned properly, it may result in knee pain, which could be quite unpleasant.
What is knee displasia, exactly? Basically, it’s a disorder where the kneecap (patella) is displaced (or partially dislocated) from its proper position. If your knee does not track properly, it might rub against the thigh bone (femur) causing intense pain, especially in the morning. Other symptoms include stiffness, muscle weakness, and decreased tolerance for physical activity. Sometimes the only symptom is pain (often described as a “pincer” or “catch” discomfort). In rare cases, it may even result in complete immobility of the knee (leg).
To alleviate the pain associated with knee disability, or if you just want to be able to enjoy your time on the slopes without worrying about your knee joints, you may need surgery. In the case of severely displaced kneecaps, it might be necessary to re-align the kneecaps and fix them with surgery (arthroplasty). If you’re not sure whether or not you have knee displasia, consult with your doctor, as it might be a sign of other health problems.
Skiing With A Broiler
Another issue that crops up frequently when skiers have knee problems is broiler syndrome. Broiler syndrome is a term used when describing the condition of a bird’s knee being abnormally large and/or misshaped. If your birds have a tendency to develop this disorder, it may be hard to prevent them from buckling under the strain of jumping and landing.
When skiing, your birds (and you if you’re skiing with pets) will be subject to lateral (to the side) forces as they jump and land. These forces will act on the knee joint, causing it to extend and flex, which in turn may cause damage. When this occurs, it’s known as “flexion contracture”. If your birds have developed flexion contracture, it might be necessary to correct it surgically (tendon reconstruction or osteotomy). As you might guess, skiing is not a sport that should be taken lightly, as it requires a lot of physical preparation. If you want to enjoy the sport you love, it’s probably a good idea to work on fixing up your body and mind so that you can maximize your potential on the slopes!