Ski and Snowboard Physiotherapy in London
Ski and snowboard physiotherapy in London treats the knee, wrist, shoulder and ankle injuries brought home from the mountain and returns skiers and snowboarders to the slopes on a criteria-based plan. Our HCPC-registered physiotherapists assess the injury in the days after your return, read the resort medical report alongside their own examination and set a rehabilitation plan matched to the next trip. Skiing injures the knee most often and snowboarding injures the wrist and shoulder most often, and the rehabilitation differs for each. Pre-season preparation in the weeks before the first trip reduces the risk of the injuries that end a holiday. Appointments are available same day, early and late across our London clinics.
- Knee, ACL, wrist, shoulder and ankle injury rehabilitation
- Pre-season preparation and return-to-snow clearance
- AXA Health, Bupa, Cigna, WPA and more accepted
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“Within weeks my pain started to decrease and within months I was back at the gym doing most of the things I wanted to be able to do.”
“Through rigorous sports massage and a clear, well structured physio exercise programme, I was back playing within a month.”
“After his treatment, massages and the exercises he gave me, I saw big improvements very fast. Within the same week I was even able to complete a half marathon.”
“I went to see Meher after struggling with shoulder and lower back pain due to long office hours, and the difference after starting treatment has been incredible.”
“I started physio with her 3 months ago and since then my knees pain has improved massively with her personalised program and custom exercises and manual therapy.”
“I came in with serious neck tension and frequent headaches from spending long hours at the computer. Preeti … did an excellent job targeting the problem areas with a focused sports massage.”
“Her sports massages are outstanding! Easily some of the most effective I’ve had.”
“I have been working with Matt for almost two years as part of my rehabilitation journey, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.”
“I started going to One Body LDN only to improve my posture … After just a few sessions with my physiotherapist Om, I can tell my posture has already started improving.”
“I feel now I am more aware of my foot placement, and my legs are definitely stronger than ever before. Roll on next ‘long run’ challenge.”
“Within just a few sessions, she managed to relieve a significant amount of the pain in my shoulder, and I’ve already noticed a real improvement.”
“I went to see him with significant back pain, and after just one appointment the difference was remarkable.”
“My therapist assessed my issue quickly and got straight to hands on therapy. It did the trick perfectly. After one session my neck pain was considerably better.”
“Very impressed with the in depth assessment and treatment plan I was given.”
“I came in with lower back pain, probably caused by spending long hours sitting at a computer … this was the first place where I started to notice a real improvement.”
“The team is very professional, welcoming, and truly cares about their clients. From the moment I arrived, I felt comfortable and well looked after.”
“Best physio in London! Have tried multiple One Body clinics and always have such a good experience and knowledgeable physiotherapists.”
“The trainers are incredibly knowledgeable and take the time to understand your goals, making every session feel personalised and effective.”
“Her knowledge and expertise were immediately evident, and she took the time to understand my specific needs and concerns in a way I haven’t experienced before.”
“This is a first class service and the Physios are all excellent and very professional and go the extra mile to help people get back to things they want to do as soon as they can!”
Find a Ski and Snowboard Physiotherapist Near You in London
Find a Clinic Near Me ▼
- 2–8 mins from major stations
- Same-day, early & late appointments
Which skiing and snowboarding injuries do we treat?
We treat the knee ligament, meniscus, wrist, thumb, shoulder, ankle and lower leg injuries that skiing and snowboarding cause, from the sprain that spoiled one afternoon to the ACL rupture that needs a season of rehabilitation. The injuries we treat most often in our London clinics are listed below, grouped by discipline:
Skiing injuries:
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain of the knee, the most common skiing injury, from a caught inside edge
- ACL rupture and ACL injury with or without surgery, covered on our ACL injury page
- Meniscus tears from a twisting fall, covered on our meniscus tear page
- Skier's thumb, the ulnar collateral ligament sprain of the thumb from a pole strap in a fall, covered on our hand pain page
- Tibial fractures and knee bruising from binding release failures, rehabilitated once the fracture is medically managed
- Lower back pain from a week of continuous skiing after months of desk work
Snowboarding injuries:
- Wrist sprains and wrist fractures from an outstretched hand in a fall, the most common snowboarding injury, covered on our wrist pain page
- Shoulder dislocation, AC joint sprain and rotator cuff injury from falls onto the shoulder, covered on our shoulder pain page
- Ankle sprains and lateral process of the talus fractures, known as snowboarder's ankle, covered on our sprained ankle page
- Tailbone and lower back bruising from backward falls
- Concussion, managed alongside medical care and covered on our concussion page
Assessment of a snow-sport injury considers the mechanism of the fall, the resort report and any imaging, the days since injury, swelling, joint stability and the demands of your next trip. Rehabilitation progresses from pain management and protection to range of movement, strength, balance, and the rotational and lateral loading skiing and snowboarding require. We use hands-on treatment where clinically appropriate, always alongside active rehabilitation.
How does ski and snowboard injury physiotherapy work?
Ski and snowboard injury physiotherapy at One Body LDN starts with an assessment within days of your return, compares the resort findings with our own examination, and sets a five-stage plan: protect, restore movement, rebuild strength, retrain snow-specific control, and return to the slopes. Most snow-sport injuries reach us between two and seven days after the fall, often with a resort X-ray, an MRI or a brace already in place.
The five stages of snow-sport injury rehabilitation are given below:
Protect and settle
Manage swelling and pain, review bracing or support, and keep the structures around the injury moving.
Restore range of movement
Restore knee, wrist, shoulder, or ankle mobility within the limits the injury allows.
Rebuild strength
Quadriceps, hamstring and gluteal strength for the knee; grip and forearm strength for the wrist, rotator cuff strength for the shoulder, calf and peroneal strength for the ankle.
Retrain snow-specific control
Single-leg balance, lateral hops, rotational control and the absorb-and-extend pattern of a turn are rebuilt in the clinic and the gym.
Return to the slopes
We clear you for the next trip based on measured criteria, progressing from green runs to the terrain you ski or ride.
Rehabilitation for a knee ligament injury follows the surgeon’s protocol where surgery has taken place, and the pathway from the first week after surgery to return to sport is set out on our post-operative physiotherapy page.
What should you do if you are injured on the mountain?
Assess any injury on the mountain at the resort medical centre that day, because the X-ray and written report determine the first week of treatment and support any travel insurance claim. Patients who return to London without a resort assessment are examined on the same basis and referred for imaging where the examination indicates a fracture or a ligament rupture.
The steps to take after a snow-sport injury are listed below:
Stop skiing or riding for the day and get the injury assessed at the resort medical centre
Keep every report, X-ray and MRI image, and photograph the paperwork before travelling home
Protect the injury during travel, with the brace, sling or crutches the resort provided
Book a physiotherapy assessment for the first days after your return, so the plan starts before stiffness and muscle loss set in
Notify your travel insurer for treatment abroad and your private medical insurer for treatment at home
How do we get you back on the slopes?
Return to skiing or snowboarding is cleared on measured criteria: full pain-free range of movement, strength within an agreed percentage of the uninjured side, passed hop and lateral control tests, and confidence in the fall that caused the injury. The next trip date is the target, not the criterion.
The typical timelines to return to the slopes after common snow-sport injuries are set out below:
| Injury | Return to daily activity | Return to the slopes |
|---|---|---|
|
MCL sprain, grade 1 or 2
|
1 to 3 weeks
|
4 to 8 weeks |
|
MCL sprain, grade 3 |
4 to 6 weeks |
8 to 12 weeks
|
|
Meniscus tear without surgery |
2 to 6 weeks |
6 to 12 weeks |
|
ACL rupture with reconstruction |
6 to 12 weeks |
9 to 12 months |
|
Wrist sprain
|
1 to 2 weeks |
3 to 6 weeks |
|
Wrist fracture |
6 weeks in a cast |
10 to 14 weeks |
|
Shoulder dislocation without surgery |
3 to 6 weeks |
3 to 4 months |
|
Ankle sprain
|
1 to 3 weeks |
4 to 8 weeks |
The timelines are typical ranges, and your progress against the criteria sets the actual date. Return to snow after ACL reconstruction follows the same rule as any return to sport: a 2016 cohort study by Grindem and colleagues in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that athletes who passed return-to-sport tests before returning had a lower re-injury rate than athletes who did not. Skiing adds a specific test to the list, the ability to absorb a landing on one leg with the knee tracking over the foot, because a knee that collapses inward on landing is the knee that re-injures on the first mogul.
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How do we prepare you for the ski season?
Pre-season preparation at One Body LDN is a six-to-eight-week programme of leg strength, single-leg control, lateral power and core endurance, built from an assessment that finds the weakness most likely to cause an injury on the first day of the trip. The assessment is a one-appointment process, and the programme is delivered through Physitrack in the weeks before the trip.
The components of a pre-season programme are listed below:
- Quadriceps and hamstring strength, because the absorb-and-extend pattern of every turn loads both, and a fatigued quadriceps is the usual background to a late-afternoon knee injury
- Gluteal and hip control, to keep the knee tracking over the foot through a turn
- Single-leg balance and landing control, tested and trained on an unstable surface
- Lateral and rotational power, through hops, bounds and medicine ball rotations
- Core and trunk endurance, which protects the lower back through a week of skiing after months at a desk
- Wrist and shoulder strength for snowboarders, with falling technique advice to reduce outstretched-hand landings
Skiers and snowboarders returning after an injury from a previous season use the same appointment to confirm they meet the criteria before booking the trip. Most pre-season assessments are booked in October and November, ahead of the December to March season, and the programme is built around the trip date.
What should you expect at your first appointment?
Your first appointment is a full assessment and treatment session, booked online without a GP referral, in any of our London clinics. Bring the resort report, any X-ray or MRI images, the brace or support you were given, and the date of your next trip.
The session covers the mechanism of the fall, the resort findings, the physical examination, the working diagnosis, first treatment and the first stage of the plan. You leave knowing what is injured, what we recommend, how long recovery is expected to take, and what the next trip looks like. Snow-sport injury rehabilitation is booked through the same online system as all private physiotherapy on our physiotherapy London page.
Treatment at the resort is claimed from your travel insurer. Physiotherapy at home is covered by most private medical insurance policies subject to authorisation, and we hold provider numbers with AXA Health, Bupa, Aviva, Vitality, Cigna and WPA. Details are on our private health insurance page.
When can you ski again after ACL surgery?
Return to skiing after ACL reconstruction is cleared between nine and twelve months after surgery in most cases, once strength, hop and landing tests are passed, and the surgeon has given clearance. The month count is a floor, and the tests decide.
Skiing loads the ACL through a combination of knee flexion, rotation, and a backward fall that pulls the shin forward, so return-to-snow tests for a reconstructed knee include single-leg landing control, lateral hop symmetry, and strength. Many surgeons recommend a knee brace for the first season back. We outline rehabilitation from the first week after surgery to the slopes on our post-operative physiotherapy page, and the non-surgical pathway for an ACL injury, which suits some recreational skiers, on our ACL injury page.
Why choose One Body LDN for ski and snowboard physiotherapy in London?
HCPC-registered, degree-qualified physiotherapists with sports medicine training
Every snow-sport injury appointment is delivered by an HCPC-registered physiotherapist and CSP member. Several clinicians hold postgraduate sports medicine qualifications or strength and conditioning certification.
Thousands of patient reviews and an NPS of +79
One Body LDN has 7,000+ Google reviews at 4.9 and thousands of five-star reviews across Google and Trustpilot. Our structured analysis of 4,859 client survey responses recorded a Net Promoter Score of +79.
Hands-on treatment plus snow-specific rehabilitation
Treatment combines soft-tissue techniques and joint mobilisation where appropriate with strength, balance, lateral and rotational training delivered through Physitrack between appointments.
Clear pricing and treatment plans, no pressure to overbook
Appointments are paid individually with no packages or multi-session commitments. Your physiotherapist tells you how many sessions to expect and when the next trip is realistic.
Same-day, early and late appointments across London
Our clinics sit 2 to 8 minutes from major Tube and train stations, with same-day, early, late and weekend appointments available at many locations, so the first appointment after a trip is never delayed.
Private health insurance and health cash plans accepted
We work with AXA Health, Bupa, Cigna Healthcare, WPA, Vitality, Aviva, Allianz, Aetna and Healix, and support cash plans including Medicash, Simplyhealth, Health Shield and Westfield Health.
Ski and snowboard physiotherapy London: FAQs
What is the most common skiing injury?
Knee ligament injury is the most common skiing injury, with the medial collateral ligament most often sprained and the ACL the most serious common injury. Most MCL sprains recover with physiotherapy alone within four to twelve weeks, depending on grade.
What is the most common snowboarding injury?
Wrist injury is the most common snowboarding injury because falls are usually broken with an outstretched hand. Wrist guards reduce the risk, and we teach falling technique in our pre-season sessions that keeps the hands in a fist and uses the forearms to absorb the fall.
Should I see a physiotherapist or a surgeon after a ski injury?
A physiotherapist is the right first contact for a sprain, a strain, or a painful but stable knee, and they refer you to a consultant in our medical referral network if the examination finds a ligament rupture, a fracture, or a locked knee. Patients with a resort MRI showing a full ACL rupture are seen by a physiotherapist for prehabilitation while the surgical decision is made.
How long after a ski injury should I book physiotherapy?
Book within the first days after your return. Early assessment manages swelling, restores movement before stiffness sets in, confirms the correct diagnosis, and a plan started in the first week shortens the recovery.
How much does ski injury physiotherapy cost in London?
New clients can book a 45-minute physiotherapy assessment and treatment for £89.
Your appointment includes a comprehensive assessment, hands-on treatment where appropriate, and a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs and recovery goals.
If further treatment is recommended, you can book your next appointment directly with your physiotherapist and access our lower follow-up rates. There are no contracts or multi-session commitments, appointments are paid for individually.
We also accept private health insurance from major UK and international insurers, subject to your policy coverage and authorisation requirements.
How many sessions of ski injury physiotherapy will I need?
There is no fixed number; it depends on your problem, how long you’ve had it, your goals, and how you respond to treatment.
Some people may only need a small number of appointments, while longer-standing injuries or post-surgery rehabilitation can require a longer programme.
After your assessment, your physiotherapist will explain what they recommend and why, and your progress will be reviewed as treatment continues.
If you don’t need further physiotherapy, we’ll tell you.
Does travel insurance or private health insurance cover my physiotherapy?
Travel insurance covers treatment at the resort and the journey home. Most private medical insurance policies cover physiotherapy in London after your return, subject to authorisation, and we help with authorisation and billing.
Can I ski with a knee brace after an MCL injury?
Skiing with a hinged knee brace is common after a grade 2 or 3 MCL sprain once you pass strength and control tests and your physiotherapist and, after surgery, your surgeon review the brace. A brace does not replace the strength work that protects the knee.
How do I know if my wrist is sprained or broken after snowboarding?
A wrist that is swollen, tender over the bone on the thumb side or painful to grip after a fall needs an X-ray, because scaphoid fractures are missed without one. Your physiotherapist applies clinical rules to decide when an X-ray is needed and refers you for imaging when those rules are met.
How many weeks before a ski trip should I start preparing?
Six to eight weeks gives enough time for strength and balance to change. A shorter programme still reduces the first-day soreness and the late-afternoon fatigue that precede most knee injuries.
Do you treat children after ski injuries?
We treat adults of all ages after snow-sport injuries. Paediatric physiotherapy sits outside our scope, and we say so and refer onward when a child is referred to us.
Can I get back on the slopes this season after an injury on the last trip?
A sprain or a strain from the first trip usually allows a return later in the same season once the criteria are passed. An ACL reconstruction or a fracture usually means the following season, and the plan is built around that date.
Does skiing after months at a desk increase injury risk?
Yes. A week of continuous skiing after months of sitting loads untrained quadriceps, gluteal and trunk muscles, and most first-day knee and back injuries in recreational skiers follow fatigue in those muscles. Pre-season preparation addresses the gap before the trip.
Ready to get back on the snow?
Ski and snowboard physiotherapy in London from One Body LDN treats the injury you brought home, rebuilds the strength and control the slopes demand and clears your return on measured criteria. Same-day appointments across London. Insurance accepted.