ACL Awareness Compliant ^sm

 See the full Lindsey Analysis issue of the free-RIDE Newsletter

 

 

     It makes sense that the easiest way to learn to ski and ride, is also the safest, and consistent with safe practices.  
     They are not just what your body can be made to do, but what it does with the least effort, because they are natural.
     But are they generally taught in ski schools?  Not always.  That's where RIDE IN HARMONY™,  and its SHAPED TEACHING ^sm     method come in.

 

 

RIDE THE SNOW IN HARMONY sm lessons, RIDEINHARMONY™,  AND SHAPED TEACHINsm, its teaching method, are consistent with advise and practices about factors of the common knee injury.  And we have evolved some of our own common sense practices, to boot.  Oh yeah, that's one of them.  Get the right boot, and learn your size in "ski talk". 

 

Spring break is about here so here are a couple reminders, and where to get help.

 

What causes an ACL to shear or snap?  An inward twist of the outside femur, that's excessive or sudden, sometimes in a turn, a fall, or upon landing from a jump.  

What USUALLY starts the excessive inward twist? The Turn-Side ^sm, inside, hand drops back and in, taking the rest of the body with it, while the outside foot in the turn is stationary,or trapped in one place by the back of the boot, or tail of the ski.  Know where you are going, with your ankles under your hips, and point in that direction.

Is this a simplification? Yes, but it applies in about seventy percent of the ACL ruptures, the most common major ski injury.



   ACL Checklist:
      1. Know your size foot and the boot you are given.

                 They should be the same size or tighter, fitting like a glove, to move when your foot does.  Ski Boots are sized in Mondopoint.  A size 8 in a regular shoe, is a marked as 26. 2+6=8 so size26 in a ski boot is equal to size 8 in a reglar shoe.  Accepting a larger boot than your foot size can be like installing loose steering on a car.

2. Turn-Side^sm HAND FORWARD, RIH style. Our First three lessons, train you to move the hands forward.  A safe practice. There are others out there.
3. Two footed foot movements. Lesson 4. Tail of the Dolphin,   Learn at your own pace on slopes you are comfortable skiing and riding, then work up.
4. Alignment, early in the ski career.  "Prophylactic" arrest of inward rotation of the femur or knee. Huh!  Whuzzat?  Talk to your shop pros about getting your stance adjusted in your boot with a foot bed, especially if your knees touch before your ankles do when you draw them together.  You may not be getting the support that you need from the edge of both skis at the same time. 

5. Ski or Ride from the Center of a functional range of motion. With the hands forward, ankles under the hips, support from both feet moving in the same direction, at the same time, and the butt tucked under, it's harder to hyperextend a leg, ankle, or knee.

6. There is more but this is a start..