Are you fit enough to hit the slopes this season?

At Cadbury Physiotherapy we’re passionate about you having a great time on the slopes and staying injury free. One common cause of injury in snow sports is lack of fitness to be able to cope with the physical demands of the sport. Tom Cadbury one of our snow sport specialist Physiotherapists talks about how he gets fit for the slopes……..

A week on the slopes can be exhausting! All day aerobic exercise which requires good strength, flexibility and balance. It’s not only the skiing but also walking in ski boots, carrying skis and getting on and off the lifts (especially if you’ve got littleones in tow too!) I like to start thinking about a fitness programme 6-12 weeks before I go away. This usually incorporates

Aerobic Exercise such as cycling, running or cross training and also Strength Training.

Here’s some examples of exercises I tend to do and also that I recommend to my patients to allow them to get fit for their snow sports.

Squats and lunges. These can start with just body weight and then you can gradually start to add weight either with dumbbells or a medicine ball. You can also do these on a BOSU or balance board to improve balance and proprioception

Bridging is great for spinal mobility but also for hamstring and gluts strength. You can start with a double leg lift and then progress to a single leg lift

Hamstring Curls on a gym ball challenge your core but also give your hamstrings a good workout

Exercises to focus on core strength can include the plank and reverse curl

Lastly you want to think about your balance and proprioception which will enable you to cope with different terrains and snow conditions. Balancing on one leg on a BOSU, balance board or even a cushion can be a great way to challenge this. You can progress this by closing your eyes or adding in medicine ball rotations

If you’d like any further advice you can drop us an email at info@cadburyphysiotherapy.com or why not book into our ski fit clinic. You can visit our Snow Sports page for further details