Assessment
A detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave knowing what is wrong, why it happened, and exactly what we are going to do about it.
Concern
Skiing Injuries Treatment in London
Skiing injuries are often acute, and many heal without surgery. We diagnose accurately and rebuild the strength and control the slopes demand, before and after.
Our skiing injury team
Overview
Understanding skiing injuries
Unlike most overuse-dominated sports, skiing produces a high proportion of acute, traumatic injuries from falls, twists and equipment forces. The knee is by far the most commonly injured, with ACL and MCL injuries, followed by skier's thumb and shoulder injuries. There is also a strong prevention angle through pre-season conditioning.
Do I need surgery?
Not always. Many ligament injuries are managed without surgery, and where surgery is needed the rehab that follows is what restores the joint. We establish an accurate diagnosis, screen for injuries needing referral or imaging, then follow NICE and BJSM criteria-based recovery, with objective testing guiding your return to the slope.
We treat recreational and competitive skiers, plus pre-season conditioning and post-surgical rehab, across our Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone clinics. Self-referral; no GP letter needed.
Why it happens
What causes skiing injuries?
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Twisting falls that load the knee, the classic mechanism for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
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The ski edge catching and forcing the leg outward, straining the medial collateral ligament (MCL)
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A fall onto a planted pole that forces the thumb sideways, spraining or tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (skier's thumb)
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Landing on an outstretched arm or shoulder, producing AC-joint injuries and dislocations
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Fatigue and deconditioning late in the day or early in the season, reducing control and raising fall risk
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Insufficient pre-season leg strength and control, leaving the knee under-prepared for slope loads
Physiotherapy for skiing injuries can help to:
Get the knee diagnosis right early
A twisting fall that leaves the knee swollen or untrustworthy needs an accurate answer: ACL, MCL or something less serious. We assess, refer for imaging or a specialist opinion where warranted, and set the plan from a diagnosis rather than a hope.
Rehabilitate ligaments with or without surgery
Many ligament injuries recover without an operation, and for those that need one the rehabilitation afterwards is what actually restores the knee. Either way the work is the same in kind: progressive strength, control and confidence, staged against criteria.
Restore your grip after skier's thumb
A pole forcing the thumb sideways sprains or tears the ligament at its base. Partial injuries do well with protection then graded rehabilitation to restore pinch grip and stability; a complete tear may need repair. Early, accurate assessment decides which road you are on.
Rebuild a shoulder after a fall
Landing on an outstretched arm or the point of the shoulder produces AC-joint injuries and dislocations. Most are managed without surgery: protection first, then progressive strengthening that returns the range and confidence to load poles and absorb the next fall.
Arrive for the season prepared
Pre-season conditioning is one of the most effective ways to cut skiing injury risk. We build the leg, hip and trunk strength and the balance the slopes demand, tailored to your level and history. Start several weeks out and the first day feels different.
Clear you for the slopes on measured criteria
Fatigue late in the day is when falls happen, so we return you at full strength rather than roughly recovered. VALD testing measures strength and left-to-right symmetry after knee or thumb rehabilitation, and the trip gets booked when the numbers say ready.
At your first appointment we look for the cause: your history, how you move, and what your work, sport and life ask of your body.
The assessment covers a detailed history and a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. We explain what we find and agree a working diagnosis and plan you understand before you leave.
You go home with a written summary and a home-exercise programme built around your diagnosis and goals, so progress continues between visits.
From pain to performance. Pain relief that lasts is not enough on its own: we rebuild the strength behind the pain so it stays gone.
- Three central London clinics: Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone, plus home visits across London and online sessions.
- Led by physiotherapist Sam Harvey: 15 years of clinical practice and an elite-sport background across football, rugby and GAA.
- Physiotherapy, strength and nutrition under one roof: three clinicians, three disciplines, joined-up care.
Fees and booking
You can self-refer and book directly: no GP letter needed, and every new patient can start with a free 15-minute consultation call. The same fees apply across our Soho, Liverpool Street and Marylebone clinics.
- Physiotherapy: a full 60 minutes for £145, whether it is your first visit or a follow-up
- 30-minute follow-ups at £90, with video appointments from £70
- Strength training and Reformer Pilates £120, sports massage from £75
- VALD performance and strength testing with a written report, £195
- 5% off a block of five sessions, 10% off a block of ten
- An itemised receipt with every session, for claiming back where your policy covers physiotherapy
Your journey
with Physio and Performance
Everything starts with finding the cause. Whether the goal is a marathon start line or a week at your desk without pain, we treat what is driving the problem, then build the strength that keeps it fixed.
Treatment
Hands-on manual therapy combined with a progressive, tailored exercise programme. Sports massage, dry needling, shockwave or Reformer Pilates are added where they help your specific problem.
Rebuild
Coached, progressive strength work restores the load tolerance your body lost, paced to where you start. This is the stage that decides whether the fix lasts.
Perform
Each follow-up reassesses you against your baseline, with VALD testing where useful, so your return to work, sport or training rests on measured readiness. Discharge happens by mutual agreement when you can manage independently.
We specialise in:
- Physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation
- Coached strength and conditioning
- Reformer Pilates
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Dry needling and shockwave therapy
- VALD performance and strength testing
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Running and gait analysis
- Sports nutrition and dietetics
Treatment approach
How do we treat skiing injuries?
Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation
£145Sports physiotherapy is the core treatment: accurate diagnosis of the knee, thumb, shoulder or lower-leg injury, onward referral or imaging where needed, and a criteria-based, exercise-led rehabilitation plan for both conservatively managed and post-surgical injuries.
See treatment detail →Strength Training
£120Structured strength and control work rebuilds the quadriceps, hamstring, hip and trunk capacity the knee depends on after a ligament injury, and builds the pre-season leg strength that reduces fall and injury risk on the slopes.
See treatment detail →VALD Performance & Strength Testing
£195VALD force-plate and dynamometry testing measures strength and left-to-right asymmetry to guide return-to-slope decisions on objective criteria after ACL or thumb rehabilitation, rather than on the calendar or how the joint feels.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Do I always need surgery for an ACL injury from skiing?
No. Some ACL injuries are managed without surgery through structured, exercise-led rehabilitation, while others: particularly in those returning to pivoting sports or with associated meniscal or ligament damage, are reconstructed. The decision depends on your knee, your goals and a specialist opinion. Either way, progressive rehabilitation to rebuild strength is central.
What is skier's thumb and how is it treated?
Skier's thumb is a sprain or tear of the ulnar collateral ligament at the base of the thumb, caused by a pole forcing the thumb sideways in a fall. Partial injuries are usually managed with protection then graded rehabilitation to restore grip and stability. A complete tear may need surgical repair, so accurate early assessment matters.
Can physiotherapy help me prepare for a ski season?
Yes. Pre-season conditioning is one of the most effective ways to reduce skiing injury risk. We build the leg, hip and trunk strength and the balance and control the slopes demand, tailored to your level and any previous injury. Starting several weeks before your trip gives the tissue time to adapt and build resilience.
When should I seek urgent help after a skiing fall?
Seek urgent care if you cannot bear weight, the knee gives way or looks deformed, a joint is clearly out of place, or you have numbness, tingling or a cold, discoloured limb. These can signal a fracture, dislocation or significant ligament injury. Contact NHS 111 or attend A&E for these; physiotherapy follows once the acute injury has been assessed.
Get Started
Ready to begin?
Book today.
Physio and Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks