Nordic Skiing Injuries

As an avid downhill skier and even a regular backcountry or touring skier, I don’t personally give enough love to the sport of cross-country or Nordic skiing. In general, this is because I really like to go fast, so cross country skiing has not been something I have tackled yet. But as a foot and ankle surgeon in the mountains, we routinely see pain and problems in this active group of people.

Even though they both share “skiing” in the name, a Nordic boot fits much more like a cycling shoe than a traditional alpine ski boot. The forefoot is strapped to the ski while the heel elevates and moves, so the motions are quite unique. At Eagle-Summit Foot & Ankle, we most commonly see pressure as a presenting problem in Nordic skiing. Tight boots causes abrasions, nail trauma such as black toenails, ingrown toenails, and even bunion or neuroma pain. These injuries are not unlike alpine complaints, but ankle injuries are more common in cross country skiing because the equipment sacrifices stability for being lightweight. Because of the increased mobility here, physical therapy is often integral to keep strength and motion up.

We treat all foot and ankle complaints at Eagle-Summit Foot & Ankle so if something is keeping you off the cross-country tracks, stop in and we can get you back out there.