06/02/2026
Ankle Injuries in Alpine Skiing – Facts, Rehab & Prevention ⛷️🦶
Despite modern ski boots and improved equipment, the ankle remains a relevant injury site in alpine skiing.
📊 What does the research say?
• Ankle injuries account for approximately 10–15% of all lower-extremity injuries in alpine skiing (Müller et al., 2017).
• The most common ankle injury is the ankle sprain (ligament injury), typically caused by falls and rotational forces (Bere et al., 2014).
• More severe injuries such as fractures or tendon lesions are less frequent but result in longer rehabilitation periods (Hauser et al., 2019).
• Overall injury incidence in alpine skiing is estimated at 2–3 injuries per 1,000 skier days, with the lower extremity being most affected(FIS Medical Committee, 2018).
🔄 Rehabilitation:
Successful rehabilitation focuses on early mobilization, progressive strength training, proprioceptive exercises, and a gradual return to sport-specific loading (Hertel & Corbett, 2019).
🛡️ Prevention:
Targeted balance and stability training, functional strength development, and properly adjusted ski bindings significantly reduce the risk of recurrent ankle injuries (Emery et al., 2015).
👉 Key takeaway:
Performance and safety on the slopes start long before race day — through structured prevention and high-quality rehabilitation.
