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I have two teenage sons who have just started skiing. I worry about broken bones and injuries. How common are these, really?

Ski injuries have fallen over the past 30 years, even as more people are taking up the sport. Injuries are measured by the number of days people are on the slopes. In the 2000 to 2001 ski season, there were 15 million skiers and 57.3 million skier days.

Earlier reports placed rates for skiing injuries at seven to 10 per 1,000 skier days. Today, these rates have fallen to 2.5 per 1,000 skier days.

Improved equipment has made much of this difference. Better ski-lift equipment and ski instruction are part of this. Improved ski boots and bindings can also be thanked.

There is a lower rate for ankle and lower leg injuries, but knee injuries are on the rise. Knee injuries make up about one-third of all injuries in adult skiers. These injuries are expected to drop even more with continued improved lift equipment, instruction, and boots.

Reference: 

Ari Pressman, MD, and Donald H. Johnson, MD, FRCSC. A Review of Ski Injuries Resulting in Combined Injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Medial Collateral Ligaments. In Arthroscopy. February 2003. Vol. 19. No. 2. Pp. 194-202.

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