Additional Information

Home Treatments:

Apply ice for 35 minutes 4 times a day. Place the ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel. Avoid moving the thumb through a brace or cast. A strain may take 4 to 6 weeks to heal.

Professional Medical Treatments:

A more severe injury may require surgery to repair the ligament. This type of surgery often involves suturing the ligament to itself or a bone. Fractures in the area are commonly repaired with wires or screws.

Physical Therapy and Exercises:

Range-of-motion exercises can typically be started 4 weeks after a serious injury, using specialized rubber bands or other equipment to put gentle pressure on the thumb and stretch it.

Exercise Techniques to Prevent Injury:

No exercise can prevent Skier’s Thumb, but skiers should consciously practice discarding the ski pole during all falls.