A recent analysis by SportsCover Direct, a specialist in sports and leisure insurance, has highlighted the physical toll of winter sports holidays, with knee, shoulder, and leg injuries emerging as the most prevalent. The research, based on first-party claims data, underscores the risks associated with activities like skiing and snowboarding, particularly as the season progresses into slushier conditions.

The study found that 60.4% of winter sports claims cited at least one type of injury. Knee injuries were the most frequently reported, accounting for approximately 21% of claims, followed by shoulder injuries at 18% and leg injuries at 13%. Other body parts, including hands, head, arms, hips, ribs, face, feet, ankles, back, elbows, pelvis, throat, and wrists, also appeared in claims, though less commonly.

Skiing, excluding competitive or race training, dominated the claims, making up 42% of the total. Off-piste skiing, snowboarding, ski racing, and off-piste snowboarding rounded out the top five activities. Additional pursuits like ski touring, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, alpine skiing, and downhill skiing were also noted.

Sean Walsh, Head of Marketing at SportsCover Direct, outlined key factors contributing to these injuries. “Most people who get injured from skiing do so for a number of reasons,” he said. “These include a lack of experience; a loss of control, which leads to collisions; falling, due to poor technique, icy conditions and uneven terrain; or equipment issues, such as poorly fitted or maintained equipment. Skiing on challenging ground, such as steep slopes, moguls or terrain parks, also increases the risk of injury compared to skiing on groomed runs designed for beginners.”

Judy Neville, business manager at ESF UK’s ski school, offered further insight into the physical demands of these sports. “The most common injury that people suffer from isn’t really an injury as such, but sore and aching legs and joints,” she said. “Because skiing and snowboarding requires the use of pressure in the knees and upper legs as well as pushing your shins forward in your ski boot, these aches and pains are the most common. As for mainstream injury, the knees and legs are the first to be affected simply as ski boots are ridged keeping feet and ankles in place so twisted knees would be the most common.”

Neville noted seasonal shifts in injury patterns. “As the snow conditions change to spring snow in March and April, the differing injuries will come from tired legs and knees ploughing through slushy snow to bumps and bruises if falling over on hard packed slopes,” she added.

Physiotherapists provided detailed recovery timelines for common injuries:

• Broken bones. Lower limb breaks, like legs, can take up to three months to heal in adults, while upper limb breaks typically require about six weeks, according to James Vickers, a consultant physiotherapist at Marylebone Health.
• Fractures. Collarbone fractures align with the six-week timeline for upper limbs, Vickers noted.
• Torn ligaments. Vickers explained that a complete ACL rupture might require surgery and around three months to heal with proper bracing, while less severe tears could recover in about six weeks.
• Abrasions. Cuts generally heal within one week to 10 days, per Vickers.
• Concussions. Matt Matson, a physiotherapist at Marylebone Health, emphasized a four-week recovery period, with active rehabilitation like low-intensity aerobic exercise and neck-strengthening programs to address symptoms.

Matson elaborated on concussion management. “When concussion symptoms don’t go away within the normal recovery period, physiotherapy really comes into play,” he said. “Sensorimotor training can also be a really important part of rehabilitation. It’s vital to follow a structured return-to-play protocol and consult with healthcare professionals experienced in concussion management.”

Walsh stressed the importance of adequate insurance. “Some travel insurance policies will exclude skiing, snowboarding and many other activities on the slopes, so if you have an accident and are not covered, you could be left to pick up the bill,” he said. “Therefore it’s so important to make sure you have the correct cover before any winter sports holidays to financially protect yourself from the costs of receiving medical treatment in a foreign country, should you have an accident on the slopes.”