Research by top skiing experts has led many to suggest that unfit women should perhaps think twice before heading out to the shops to buy ski wear and book a skiing holiday. Scotland’s chief sports surgeon is among a group of medical professionals who are warning that “less than toned females” have a heightened risk of sustaining serious knee injuries on the slopes. The research concluded that women are around eight times more likely than men to injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a horrendously painful injury that very often requires extensive reconstructive surgery.

Prone for Anatomical Reasons

Anatomical differences between men and women have made women particularly susceptible to this sort of injury, a risk that can be heightened by a lack of physical fitness. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Professor Gordon Mackay suggested that women in particular needed to prepare themselves physically before embarking on a skiing holiday. “Women are more at risk of injury, they should be taking more care in terms of preparation,” explained Prof Mackay. If you are already in decent shape, you are more likely to “avoid the fatigue factor.”

Managing Expectations

At the crux of the matter is the fact that the more fatigued you are, the higher your chances of sustaining the injury, hence the heightened risk for the unfit. Prof Mackay suggests that people should know their limits when on a skiing holiday, “if you are not accustomed to eight hours of intense exercise a day it doesn’t make sense to stay on the slopes until the lifts close.”