Some of the most frequent Google searches relating to ski injuries and pain include ‘is skiing bad for your hips?’ and ‘is skiing bad for your back?’ It’s likely that these are the two areas of the body that come to mind when we consider the stance we take while skiing.

The other area of the body that’s worth considering is our hips. There is a possibility of a hip injury or pain from:

• Falling over
• Colliding with another skier or object on the slopes
• A bad landing off a jump
• Incorrect technique
• Aggravating an existing injury or condition

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Skiing may affect the hips in the following ways:

HIP PAIN FROM STRAINS OR SPRAINS
Hip strains and sprains are injuries that occur when the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the hip joint are stretched or torn. This may happen if you fall awkwardly when skiing for example. Strains and sprains can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.

PINCHED NERVES
When nerves in the hip joint are compressed or pinched, it can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hip area.

HIP IMPINGEMENT
This is a condition where the bones of the hip joint rub against each other, causing pain and discomfort.

HIP FRACTURES
Hip fractures are breaks in the bones of the hip joint. A fracture can be caused by trauma, such as misjudging a landing or falling on the ski slope. Hip fractures can unfortunately cause severe pain and may require surgery.

HIP ARTHRITIS
Also known as osteoarthritis, this is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage in the hip joint breaks down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

BURSITIS
Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursae, small sacs of fluid that cushion the joints, including the hip joint. Bursitis can cause pain and tenderness around the hip joint.

TENDINITIS
This is an inflammation of the tendons, which are the bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendinitis can occur in the hip joint, causing pain and tenderness.

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To reduce the risk of hip pain and injuries, you can make sure your skiing technique is correct, ensure adequate stretching and be mindful of existing injuries and conditions.

In terms of existing conditions – the affect skiing has on arthritis for example is not always too bad – it will depend on how bad an individuals’ arthritis is and how severe their symptoms are. It is possible to ski with arthritis. Sometimes the arthritis could flare up or may get worse over time, which would mean it could become more difficult to ski.