Winter with its snow and mountains is the perfect time for skiers. However, individuals who have had knee replacement surgery, whether total or mono-compartmental, may wonder if skiing is safe for them. Is skiing a risky sport for the knees? While skiing is not among the most joint-wearing sports due to its reliance on sliding on snow, it is still injury-prone due to falls and sprains. When skiing, it is crucial to maintain stability, which requires firmly inserting and locking the foot and ankle into the boot. Unfortunately, this also means that in the event of a fall, the knee is subjected to excessive force, which can lead to injury of the joint capsules and ligaments that hold the bones together in the joints.
Skiing is not recommended for patients who are recovering from knee replacement surgery, especially for those who are not experienced skiers or are trying it for the first time. However, advancements in surgical technologies and techniques have greatly improved postoperative quality of life and recovery time. Researchers have designed a fully robotic care pathway for patients who need knee replacement surgery. The robots equipped with artificial intelligence analyze patients’ anatomical data and provide precise and customized treatment to enhance the intervention’s accuracy. Patients who undergo this robotic care pathway experience shorter postoperative recovery times. They can move their knee on the day after surgery, walk on the second day, and abandon crutches after two weeks.
After how long should one wait before returning to skiing?
After undergoing a major surgery like knee implantation, it is crucial to undergo a tailored physiotherapy course to enable you to return to your sporting activities. Only after achieving complete muscular recovery and postural rebalancing, which optimize and make the sporting gesture fluid, can you go back to skiing.
Although it may vary from person to person, this course typically takes 5 to 6 months, which is the time required for the bone and joint to heal after the surgery.
For ski enthusiasts who are eager to hit the slopes after knee replacement surgery, here is some expert advice:
– Be patient and allow enough time for recovery and healing. Rushing the process may lead to complications.
– Maintain a good level of physical activity after the surgery to stay healthy and improve your overall fitness.
– Focus on strengthening your muscles to support the new joint.
– Work with a physical therapist who can guide you through the rehabilitation process and help you get back to your sporting activity.
– Avoid slopes that are too steep, where the risk of injury is higher.
– Consider starting with moderate exercises, such as mountain walking or snowshoeing, before transitioning to more intense activities like skiing.
