ACL tears are among the most common season-ending injuries in skiing, making injury prevention an important part of preparing for the season. The crew with Outdoor Adventure Training, including founder Mikey Bell, sat down with U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Physician Dr. Jeb Reid to discuss how ACL injuries happen and what skiers can do to reduce their risk.
It’s a pretty long discussion, running for nearly an hour, but it’s very interesting and could be very useful for those training for the season ahead. It focuses on the mechanics behind many ski-related ACL tears, including the phantom foot position that’s associated with quite a few injuries.
Preparing the Body for Ski Season
The conversation also covers the eight training pillars that can help build a more durable skier. Training approaches discussed include loading tendons, cartilage, and bone with different types of stimuli, along with eccentric exercises designed to improve a skier’s ability to control and absorb force.
Balance and proprioception receive attention as well, particularly for skiers returning from an injury. The panel also addresses what knee braces can and cannot do, while explaining how technique work in the gym can carry over to performance on snow.
The second half of the discussion features questions from viewers about meniscus tears, MCL rehabilitation, quad and hamstring strength ratios, hypermobility, cramping, and whether ski racers actually ski with their knees in valgus.
Make sure to check out the Outdoor Adventure Training YouTube channel if you’re looking for more specific workout plans while preparing for the upcoming winter season.