Ice Skating Injuries

Ice Skating, while a fun activity and a good winter sport, has potential injuries to watch out for when on the ice. These injuries can include sprained ankles, fractures, knee injuries and concussions due to falling. Ice is very slippery and beginners fall very often from slipping, which is the reason why bruises are very common when starting out. With a bad fall, someone can get badly injured from ice skating.

Sprained Ankles:

Sprained ankles can result from twisting or rolling the ankle while skating. This is more common in performing leaps and jumps incorrectly or from losing balance. When recovering from a sprained ankle, it is important to follow the RICE method, or rest, ice, compress, and elevate the injured area. To prevent this type of injury, it is recommended to wear skates the correct size or tight enough to provide ankle support without being too tight.

Fractures:

It is easy to fracture or break a bone while ice skating since it can happen from falling or improper technique. When people start to fall while ice skating, they instinctively reach out their hands to catch themselves or to break their fall. This can easily cause fractures or broken bones in the hands and wrists. Knowing the right way to fall, or how to fall safely by keeping the arms close to the body or rolling to reduce force, can lower the risk of a fracture. Other things like landing a jump incorrectly, colliding with another skater, or inexperienced skating can cause fractures. If a fracture does happen while ice skating, it is recommended to stop moving as that can cause further damage to the fracture, get first aid, and follow the doctor’s recommendation, such as a cast or splint.

Knee injuries:

Because the knee is an important body part for balance, knee injuries are common in ice skating. Sprains, ligament tears, Jumper’s Knee, and bruises are common in the knees. Jumper’s Knee is otherwise known as patellar tendonitis, or overuse or stress on the knee from jumping. A person could fall onto the knee, land a jump incorrectly, or lose their balance and have a knee injury. Like most other injuries, when the knee is hurt, it is recommended to use the RICE method of treatment: rest, ice, compress, and elevate.

Concussions:

A concussion is a brain bruise. It can occur when the head is hit hard, like in a fall or collision when ice skating. Concussions are different in that symptoms sometimes aren’t felt immediately after injury, but they can result in nausea, dizziness, fatigue, blurry vision, confusion, mood swings, or sleep disturbances. It is important to stop further activity after a hit to the head that you suspect may result in a concussion because further activity may result in more severe damage. When healing from a concussion, it’s also important to get plenty of rest for the brain and follow up with a healthcare provider. 

Conclusion:

Ice skating, a fun sport, can result in many potential injuries. These injuries, while not exhaustive, are examples of the more common types of injuries people experience while ice skating. It’s important to get first aid care immediately after an injury and to stop skating when an injury occurs. 

Sources:

“Ankle Injuries: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/ankle-injuries-causes-and-treatments. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

“Concussion Basics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/heads-up/about/index.html#:~:text=A%20concussion%20is%20a%20type%20of%20traumatic%20brain%20injury%E2%80%94or,move%20rapidly%20back%20and%20forth. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

“Do You Know the Most Common Injuries in Figure Skating?” Skadefri, fittoplay.org/sports/figure-skating/de-vanligste-skadene/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Hughston. “Ice Skating Injuries.” Hughston Clinic, 18 Oct. 2021, hughston.com/wellness/ice-skating-injuries/.

“Top 5 Ways to Avoid Ice Skating Injuries.” Rose Physical Therapy Group, 18 Nov. 2017, rosept.com/blog/top-5-ways-avoid-ice-skating-injuries.