While practicing this sport, skaters perform jumps, pirouettes, twists, or even sequences, which can cause quite serious injuries.

It is an exercise of great technical difficulty, in which the athlete must know how to move quickly, demonstrate agility, resistance while controlling his space.

That’s why skaters need to train to stay in shape and be able to perform all of these tricks constantly. However, fatigue from training and the danger of jumping leads to stiffness, injury, and trauma.

It is, therefore, essential for athletes to be careful and attentive to any symptoms, as well as to do their utmost to prevent any harm. In this article, we present the most common injuries in figure skating.

Common figure skating injuries

Sprains and fractures of the ankle

The skates, weight, strides, and strain on the ankles make them vulnerable to sprains and fractures. Ankle injuries caused by stress can lead to damage to the muscles of the tibia and fibula.

In addition, these issues are very disturbing for athletes as they directly affect their performance on the track. A serious ankle injury can damage a career.

Knee injuries

Knee injuries can occur as a result of a fall, muscle strain, or a technical error. Usually, in the event of a fall, the injury is minor and leaves the skater with a sore knee and a bruise.

However, a strong impact can seriously damage the kneecap or even cause it to become misaligned. If not corrected by physiotherapy, the misalignment of the kneecap can cause progressive damage to the knee and the cartilage that stabilizes it.

The knees can also be damaged by the twisting caused by jumps and rotations. Most often, this type of injury affects the ligaments that correctly position the joint.

Tendonitis

Skaters’ feet are protected inside the skates, which are designed to preserve them as best as possible. Even so, repetitions and the force exerted with each movement can lead to tendonitis.

Tendonitis can mainly occur in the Achilles tendon, ankle, or soles of the feet. Therefore, skaters should wear appropriate footwear and ensure the well-being of their feet.

Injuries to hands and wrists

In the event of a slip or fall, the immediate reflex is to put your hands in to absorb the shock, which also makes it possible to protect the face. However, it can also cause serious injury to the hand or wrist from the force of the impact.

Head injuries

With the loss of balance or control, head injuries are a common, but also serious, consequence. The ice surface is very dangerous because it does not absorb shocks. These skating-related injuries include concussions or other traumatic injuries.

Prevention injury in figure skating

In figure skating, everything must be done to avoid injuries. First of all, because they can cause muscle problems, but also slow down the career of an athlete. There are, therefore, certain means to put into practice to prevent any damage:

• Always warm-up well before entering the track.
• Make sure you have the physical capacity and all the skills required to perform the various movements and sequences.
• Wear clothing suitable for skating: no jewellery, avoid loose clothing, have your hair tied, and skates of the correct size.
• If possible, do not train when you are too exhausted or injured. This could adversely affect physical and mental well-being, as well as performance.
• Have a first aid kit with the basic items to deal with injuries, like bandages, alcohol, cotton, povidone, ointment against bumps, muscle gel, etc.
• Consult a specialist in case of pain, discomfort, or suspected injury. In all cases, self-medication should be avoided.

In summary, figure skating is a sport that requires a lot of courage while being delicate and elegant. It is, therefore, imperative to be very rigorous in the execution since suffering one of these injuries would be very damaging for the skater.

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