I’ve just returned from a few days sking in the French Alps. I haven’t skied for 6 years and was concerned that I might have lost the limited skills that I have acquired during infrequent trips in the past. I’ve always had a few private lessons whenever I ski, as they help me to get back up to speed again. On this tripto Morzine I was lucky enough to be introduced to Mark de Rosenwerth from White Blancmange. Mark took me for three half day lessons and was superb. He quickly assessed my strengths and weaknesses and developed a programme that had me turning better than I have ever done before! He demonstrated that rare skill of combining professionalism with good humour and thoroughness. Highly recommended, and I will certainly look to Mark to sort me out again next year.
I’ve bumped a post (below) that I wrote a few years ago about skiing and hip surgery. I hope that it is useful for you. I am developing an idea to build a network of physiotherapists and ski instructors who will have the skills needed to help patients who have had hip surgery, and wish to continue to ski for as long as possible. watch this space! If you would like advice, please get in touch.
Many of my patients are keen skiers, and most of them would like to continue to ski after their hip surgery. Whether or not this is a good idea is open to debate! A high speed fall might cause a dislocation, or even break the bones around the hip, but this might happen even if you had never had hip surgery. I use large bearing implants which are very resistant to dislocation, and the materials are very durable. A recent article in The Gazette from Colorado Springs described how Charles Elliott (96) returned to skiing 6 months after a hip replacement.
‘At first he tottered gingerly from edge to edge like a beginner. Then, realizing his new hip was strong and stable, he began carving from side to side in long, elegant turns. Where strength had faded over the years, grace took over. He turned down a bumpy blue run, slipping easily through small moguls.
At the bottom, his hip was feeling so good that he decided to do it again.
And again.
He hopes to ski 15 days in this season.
‘I didn’t think it would be possible for anyone to ski until 100 he said at the end of his third run, but now that’s only four years away, I just might make it.’
A remarkable story. If you want to ski after hip surgery, my advice is to:
- Make sure that you are fit enough before you go
- Choose a time when the slopes will be less crowded (out of the school holidays)
- Avoid difficult runs, moguls and ice
