Fatigue and equipment do more damage than the terrain.
The knee takes the worst of it: ACL and MCL sprains, meniscus tears, patellofemoral pain. Falls put the shoulder and wrist next in line. Ankles, hip flexors and the lower back absorb what is left over from variable snow and long days. Two contributors show up again and again, and neither of them is the run you were on. Poorly fitted equipment is one. Skiing past the point of exhaustion is the other.
That matters, because it means most ski injuries are not purely bad luck. There is usually a strength, mobility or equipment problem underneath, and if we only rehab the tissue you go back up the lift with the same problem you came down with.
Sore after a big day is normal. These are not.
Here is what we see most, and the signs that mean you should be looked at rather than iced and ignored. Visible bruising, or a joint that has changed shape or alignment, needs evaluation right away.
Knee Injuries
ACL tears and sprains, MCL injuries, meniscus tears, patellofemoral pain. The boot holds the ankle, so a twisting fall loads the knee.
Shoulder and Wrist Injuries
Shoulder dislocations, rotator cuff injuries, wrist fractures and sprains, and upper back strain. Usually the result of how you landed.
Ankle, Hip and Low Back
Ankle sprains and strains, tibial stress fractures, hip flexor injuries, lower back muscle strains and IT band syndrome.
Pain and Swelling That Stays
Joint pain and swelling that does not settle with rest and ice, especially with warmth around the joint or trouble bearing weight.
Instability or Weakness
The knee or shoulder feels like it is giving out. Even if you can get through your day on it, that sensation points at the supporting structures.
Limited Range of Motion
Stiffness that outlasts normal post-ski soreness. Reaching overhead, bending the knee or rotating the joint no longer goes where it used to.
Rebuild the knee, then rebuild the skier.
Skiing has its own demands, so the rehab does too. Eccentric strength for downhill control. Rotational stability for turning. Multi-directional work for balance on variable snow. Manual therapy releases the restricted tissue and restores joint mobility while that strength is being rebuilt. Where the joint cannot yet take load, blood flow restriction training lets you build strength with light weight instead of losing it while you wait.
Then we address the part most people skip. Movement analysis, equipment fitting guidance and pre-season conditioning, because poorly fitted gear and skiing past exhaustion are two of the most common ways skiers end up back here.
No referral needed. Most insurances accepted. In most cases, you can be seen within the same week.
What our patients say.
"Dynamic PT is an important part of keeping my body & my families bodies working properly. Especially through injuries from waterskiing, baseball and desk jockeying."Dave P. · Recreational Athlete
Schedule Your Appointment
No referral needed. Most insurances accepted, and we verify your benefits before your first visit. In network with 11+ carriers plus Medicare.
Fill out the form and tell us what happened, or stop by the Cottonwood Heights clinic and book in person. Your first visit is about an hour with your Doctor of Physical Therapy, start to finish.
You’re all set.
We’ll reach out within one business day to confirm your appointment. If you need to speak with us sooner, call us directly.