Skiers thumb

Cahal

Cahal

Member
I recently just broke my thumb again this season and it had me wondering how many others have had this happen frequently in the past. Lucky enough for me in only in high school so a small cast on my hand dosen't have to many consequences besides writing (its my right hand). I nearly injure my thumb every season from odd falls here and there but its starting to become a bigger habit. By the end of my casting I convinced my doctor to slim it down enough to fit a mitten over it so I can ski in a week or two. What's your story with broken thumbs?
 
I definitely hurt my thumbs a lot but I am pretty sure I have never broken one of them, I don't break stuff a lot so I guess I am either soft or have pretty strong bones. I could see how this would be a problem for a lot of people though.
 
I have never had that problem, because of the way I put the strap on my wrist.
265
 
13306227:.CJ. said:
I have never had that problem, because of the way I put the strap on my wrist.
265
Click to expand...

I used pole straps once...Pole got stuck under a stump and the strap sliced my forearm open.
 
13306376:Eastern.Skier said:
Screen-shot-2014-01-05-at-8.30.11-PM.png


Pole Straps

Never Again
Click to expand...

Until you leave a pole 100 ft above you in 4 feet of snow on a 45 degree slope...

I dont use pole straps either, im just saying that shit really, really sucks haha
 
If you wear pole straps correctly, the poles wont hurt your thumb. Seriously I see people hurt their thumbs all the time and every one of them had the strap on incorrectly. Poles arent a bad thing at all, you just have to know how to use them
 
13306413:Cyabski said:
If you wear pole straps correctly, the poles wont hurt your thumb. Seriously I see people hurt their thumbs all the time and every one of them had the strap on incorrectly. Poles arent a bad thing at all, you just have to know how to use them
Click to expand...

What is with people hurting their thumbs because of pole straps? I've never had this happen to me so I'm just a bit curious how people actually get hurt..
 
I can't tell the difference between proper pole technique and improper. Doesn't matter, I haven't used pole straps in years and amazingly I still don't recall ever dropping one
 
I used to hurt my thumb a lot then i decided instead of putting my hand out I would use my elbow. Just as bony and still gets the job done.
 
13306768:Scotty_B said:
I used to hurt my thumb a lot then i decided instead of putting my hand out I would use my elbow. Just as bony and still gets the job done.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a broken arm waiting to happen haha.
 
I started using poles straps correctly, got the armada bmx grips, and honestly you just have to learn how to fall and when to let your poles go etc
 
topic:G-raff. said:
Lucky enough for me in only in high school so a small cast on my hand dosen't have to many consequences besides writing (its my right hand).
Click to expand...

besides writing and...?
 
13306768:Scotty_B said:
I used to hurt my thumb a lot then i decided instead of putting my hand out I would use my elbow. Just as bony and still gets the job done.
Click to expand...

Goodbye collarbone!

Take it to the shoulder like a man. Always remember to maintain the afterbang position when you fall.
 
13306755:G-raff. said:
265


This just seems weird because part of the nylon strap is in your palm. does not look comfortable
Click to expand...

No, on the contrary; the strap supports the wrist and thumb against vertical impacts, feels tight and grippy and eases with using your poles to skate. It still baffles me no body ever straps in right.
 
13307271:freestyler540 said:
No, on the contrary; the strap supports the wrist and thumb against vertical impacts, feels tight and grippy and eases with using your poles to skate. It still baffles me no body ever straps in right.
Click to expand...

Actually, people do, you're just too obsessed with your pole grip to notice
 
I think that there is an actual medical term called skiers thumb, I do the same thing everytime I land backseat, but havent broken anything
 
13307328:freeskier0008 said:
I think that there is an actual medical term called skiers thumb, I do the same thing everytime I land backseat, but havent broken anything
Click to expand...

There is a diagnosis, its just not a broken thumb. Skiers thumb is a torn ligament in the thumb from falling and jamming your thumb into the ground.
 
13306479:Mingg said:
What is with people hurting their thumbs because of pole straps? I've never had this happen to me so I'm just a bit curious how people actually get hurt..
Click to expand...

When the strap is around your wrist and then goes between your thumb and pionter finger, the pole will rest right in your hand without you holding onto it. When the pole straps are hanging over your hand like this and you fall, the pole will remain in your hand even when you let go of it. Then what usually happens is while you are falling, the pole gets planted in the snow and pulls on your thumb and hurts it. If you look at the diagram that was posted eariler in this thread, it shows a way to have the strap on so that when youn fall and let go of the pole. It falls away from your hand and doesnt get caught up on your thumb. Hope that makes sence :)
 
13307683:Cyabski said:
When the strap is around your wrist and then goes between your thumb and pionter finger, the pole will rest right in your hand without you holding onto it. When the pole straps are hanging over your hand like this and you fall, the pole will remain in your hand even when you let go of it. Then what usually happens is while you are falling, the pole gets planted in the snow and pulls on your thumb and hurts it. If you look at the diagram that was posted eariler in this thread, it shows a way to have the strap on so that when youn fall and let go of the pole. It falls away from your hand and doesnt get caught up on your thumb. Hope that makes sence :)
Click to expand...

And thats a common occurrence? hmm, thats interesting.
 
I sprained mine skiing yesterday. I can barely lift anything with my left hand. And I only seem to hurt my left thumb.
 
13306413:Cyabski said:
If you wear pole straps correctly, the poles wont hurt your thumb. Seriously I see people hurt their thumbs all the time and every one of them had the strap on incorrectly. Poles arent a bad thing at all, you just have to know how to use them
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true, 3 of the 4 times i have broken my thumb i was using my poles correctly, sometimes you just put your hand down before your pole can get out of the way, regardless of how the strap is positioned. it helps if your straps are pretty loose, and to wear them correctly, but honestly, i dont even use poles in the park anymore because i was sick of it happening
 
I didn't brake it but i tore my UCL ligament. So way back in august my friend wanted me to try something (i don't remember the exact trick) off the tiniest roller known to man kind and me being me tried it and tore the ligament and braking my thumb. I just got my surgery done yesterday to fix it. :\
 
13307697:Mingg said:
And thats a common occurrence? hmm, thats interesting.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I work as a ski coach and in close collaboration with ski patrol. They were recently talking about this exact subject and last season there were around 40 thumb injuries. And for a tiny resort like mine, that is a crazy high amount.
 
If you have Line ski poles with the grab tabs they can cause skiers thumb.

I took a stack and I was holding the pole the 'correct' way but the grab tabs obstruct the pole from being released from my hand.

I also wear this thumb guard thing while I ski to help prevent further injuries.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top