02/24/2026
SKI INJURY RISK REDUCTION AND RETURN TO SPORT: An Expert Panel Discussion
Part Three: Return to Sport Testing for Skiers and the progression back to the mountain
Catherine Logan MD, and Nate Lilley MPT,OCS,CSCS
KEY STRENGTH METRICS
✔️Isometric peak force limb symmetry index (LSI) - Comparing the injured/operative sides strength to the contralateral extremity.
✔️Isometric peak force Hamstring/Quad ratio- A ratio of strength comparing the hamstring and quadriceps on the same limb.
✔️Torque-to-bodyweight (TTBW) ratio- How much strength (torque) can be generated based off of an individual’s body weight and the length of the moment arm (tibia)
Strength goals:
⛷️>/ 90% quad LSI and/or >/ 3.0 Nm/kg quad TTBW for return to skiing
🎿>/60% Quad:HS Ratio
ADDITIONAL RTS TESTS FOR THE SKI ATHLETE:
✔️The single-leg vertical jump test (SLVJ) is a unilateral power and motor-control assessment used to evaluate how well one limb can produce force vertically and absorb it on landing.
✔️6 inch Single-Leg Drop Jump (SLDJ) is a test measuring reactive strength / stretch-shortening cycle efficiency. This test is great at assessing frontal and transverse plane mechanics, dynamic knee control as well as exposing asymmetries under higher-speed loading.
✔️The 40-centimeter unilateral lateral hop test is a single-limb agility, power, and frontal-plane control drill that also measures limb endurance.