Skier's Thumb

It's thumbs down for winter accidents, and for skiers we mean that quite literally.

If you fall while skiing, you have a good chance of getting your hand caught against the pole. You open your hand to break the fall, but the wrenching pressure of the pole against the thumb causes it to hyperextend, or bend backward away from the hand. Ouch!

You can help prevent this accident by not using the straps on your poles or by wearing a thumb splint inside your glove.

Second only to knee injuries as the most common skiing accident, skier's thumb can affect your ability to grasp or pinch items in your hand. The force strains or tears the ulnar collateral ligament, the major stabilizing ligament in your hand. Once injured, people can find themselves unable to do simple tasks like holding a wine glass or using a key.

Signs of a skier's thumb injury include pain and swelling over the base of the thumb and loss of strength. Many people believe these injuries are minor and delay treatment, which can lead to more severe damage including chronically loose ligaments, joint problems, chronic disability and/or repeat injury.

If you suspect you have skier's thumb, ice the area at home and then seek medical attention. After diagnosis, you may need to wear a splint or cast. For more serious injuries, surgery maybe required.

As part of the treatment, our Occupational Therapy staff will also create an individualized program to help you regain strength, maximize range of motion and get back to the slopes.

Happy skiing from Prevea Occupational Therapy!!