Caring for ski-related injuries

By Lee Sung-hun

Typically, winter is not a season for outdoor activities, but there are still means to exercise the body even in the cold.

Classic examples of such winter sports that can be enjoyed on the slopes are skiing and snowboarding.

The most frequently injured body parts are the knees followed by the wrists and arms for skiers, and snowboarders also often have shoulder injuries.

When the knees or wrists are injured, it is most likely to be a sprain, which is a stretched or torn ligament.

Ligaments are strong tissues that connect bones at a joint and stabilize them. They are a bit like wrapping between the connecting bones. Due to external trauma (such as falling awkwardly), the ligaments can be over-stretched or even torn, which we generally refer to as a sprain.

With strained ligaments, the affected joint can swell up and the range of motion, whether active or passive, can become limited. In some cases, subcutaneous bleeding can also show up as bruises.

If left untreated, they can also result in damage to the cartilage and even to degenerative arthritis, which means that it is essential to properly treat torn ligaments early on.

The initial treatments for sprains can be easily remembered with the acronym of RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

The first step is rest. Care should be taken so that no weight is loaded on the injured joint and pain-inducing movements are avoided.

Often patients try to stretch the affected joint immediately following the injury, believing that stretches may lessen the pain, but stretching can aggravate it and should be avoided.

The second step is ice, meaning applying ice or a cold pack to the affected area.

Cold contracts blood vessels, delays inflammatory reactions, and reduces pain and swelling. Patients can apply ice or a cold pack for 20 to 30 minutes, three or four times a day. Ice should not be directly applied to the skin, but wrapped in a towel.

Many patients are often confused about whether to apply a cold pack or hot pack to the injured area. Generally, only a cold pack is called for in the initial 48 to 72 hours following the injury, and after then hot packs can be applied.

The hot pack expands the blood vessels underneath and increases blood flow to the area to promote recovery. If a hot pack is applied at the initial stages, increased blood flow can aggravate the swelling and hemorrhage.

The third step is compression.

Wrapping the injured area with an elastic bandage or sport tapes can help decrease swelling.

The fourth step is elevation.

Elevating the injured area above the heart by lying down with the affected joint propped on a pillow helps minimize the swelling.

Treatment options for a sprain include acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping and moxibustion.

Bruises are referred to as blood stasis and cupping treatment is often administered to remove them. Much like unclogging a pipe, this treatment removes the blood stasis from the flow to promote better circulation and tissue recovery.

Acupuncture can speed up the recovery of the injured ligament and relieves the tension in the surrounding muscles, while moxibustion helps chronic sprains.

When an injury occurs, a sprain is difficult to distinguish from a strain, which is a stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon, or even from a fracture without further examinations.

It is advised that patients follow the RICE protocols as part of their first-aid treatment, and visit a clinic to seek professional help.