Competitive Figure Skate Injury
Figure skaters are at increased risk to ankle injuries, particularly injuries to the peroneal tendon. This is mainly due to the increase in boot stiffness since the elimination of figures and shift of training focus to freestyle, mainly, jumping. Today, boots must be stiffer than ever to accommodate impact from more triple and quadruple jumps (Porter et al. 2007). This in turn causes ankles to become weaker and injury rates to increase, especially due to poor training habits. According to estimations, up to 78% of injuries could be prevented - whether because of an off-ice warm up or better off-ice training. The combination of poor training, increased boot stiffness, increased jump focus, weaker ankles and the design of figure skates (when
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In simplest terms, tendinitis is inflammation/irritation of any of the body’s tendons. This inflammation causes pain around the tendon, often at joints. It is most commonly caused by repetitive microtraumas (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). This same type of injury, the repetitive microtrauma style, is the most common long-term injury in figure skating; it is often due to jumping. Competitive figure skaters train upwards of 30 hours a week (especially those whom are elite), and most of this time (⅔ or more, based on most training styles) is jump based. (As figure skaters reach higher levels, the time spent jumping increases because figure skaters no longer must complete Moves in the Field. I personally spend a two hour on ice training session as follows: 20 minutes on edges, 20 minutes spinning, 60 minutes jumping and then I assess how I feel - if I have ankle pain, I complete my session spinning and doing edges, but if I am fine, I continue jumping. I estimate I do upwards of 50 jumps a day.) Overuse injuries are the most common concern for many figure skaters, especially if they have poor technique engraved into them as a developmental figure skater (Šeniglová, 2011). Proper technique is especially important to young athletes who will develop habit and continue the technique taught to them as they age. (For example, it took me nearly two years to slightly slow my flip and lutz takeoff - and many coaches, when they meet me, notice my
In simplest terms, tendinitis is inflammation/irritation of any of the body’s tendons. This inflammation causes pain around the tendon, often at joints. It is most commonly caused by repetitive microtraumas (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). This same type of injury, the repetitive microtrauma style, is the most common long-term injury in figure skating; it is often due to jumping. Competitive figure skaters train upwards of 30 hours a week (especially those whom are elite), and most of this time (⅔ or more, based on most training styles) is jump based. (As figure skaters reach higher levels, the time spent jumping increases because figure skaters no longer must complete Moves in the Field. I personally spend a two hour on ice training session as follows: 20 minutes on edges, 20 minutes spinning, 60 minutes jumping and then I assess how I feel - if I have ankle pain, I complete my session spinning and doing edges, but if I am fine, I continue jumping. I estimate I do upwards of 50 jumps a day.) Overuse injuries are the most common concern for many figure skaters, especially if they have poor technique engraved into them as a developmental figure skater (Šeniglová, 2011). Proper technique is especially important to young athletes who will develop habit and continue the technique taught to them as they age. (For example, it took me nearly two years to slightly slow my flip and lutz takeoff - and many coaches, when they meet me, notice my