15 Common Bobsledding injuries (Prevention & Treatment)

15 common bobsledding injuries, from concussions and sled head to neck strain, back injuries, shoulder dislocations and wrist fractures.

The g-forces and crashes on the track also cause knee, hip, rib, hand and foot damage, broken collarbones and facial injuries, each with its causes and what crews do to reduce the risk.

Injury Rates and Numbers

The figures below come from injury surveillance data and peer reviewed studies. Each row names the population it was measured in, because rates from elite athletes and from recreational players are not comparable.

Finding	Measured in	Source
At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, 20 percent of all bobsleigh athletes sustained an injury, among the highest team injury shares of any sport at those Games.	Bobsleigh athletes competing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, 2010 Games; systematic review published 2018	McCradden MD, Cusimano MD, Frontiers in Neurology (systematic review of concussions in sledding sports)
At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, 18.1 percent of bobsleigh athletes were injured, and 1.2 percent of those injuries kept the athlete out of sport for more than 7 days.	Bobsleigh athletes competing at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, 2014 Games; systematic review published 2018	McCradden MD, Cusimano MD, Frontiers in Neurology (systematic review of concussions in sledding sports)
At the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games, 13.8 percent of bobsleigh athletes were injured.	Youth bobsleigh athletes at the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games, 2016 Games; systematic review published 2018	McCradden MD, Cusimano MD, Frontiers in Neurology (systematic review of concussions in sledding sports)
Across Olympic-level competition, concussions account for 13 to 15 percent of all injuries in the sledding sports of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton.	Sledding sport athletes (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton combined), not bobsleigh alone, Olympic and Youth Olympic Games 2010 to 2016; review published 2018	McCradden MD, Cusimano MD, Frontiers in Neurology (systematic review of concussions in sledding sports)
Instrumented mouthguards worn by 12 elite bobsleigh athletes recorded 1,900 head acceleration events across 48 training days and 53 competition days of one World Cup season.	12 elite bobsleigh athletes (3 pilots, 9 push athletes; 6 female, 6 male), 2021 to 2022 Bobsleigh World Cup season; published 2024	Journal of Athletic Training, Head Kinematics and Injury Analysis in Elite Bobsleigh Athletes Throughout a World Cup Tour

Overview

Injury	Body area	Typical time out
Head injuries (concussions) / sled head (micro-concussions)	Head	1 to 4 weeks, months if persistent
Neck injuries (strains, fractures)	Neck	1 to 8 weeks, 3+ months if fractured
Back injuries (muscle strains, herniated discs)	Lower back	2 to 6 weeks, longer with nerve pain
Shoulder injuries (rotator cuff, dislocations)	Shoulder	6 to 12 weeks, 4+ months after surgery
Wrist injuries (sprains, fractures)	Wrist	2 to 12 weeks, longer after surgery
Knee injuries (ACL, meniscus)	Knee	2 to 12 weeks, 9+ months if repaired
Hip injuries (strains, dislocations)	Hip	2 to 10 weeks, months if severe
Rib injuries (bruises, fractures)	Ribs and chest	2 to 8 weeks
Hand injuries (fractures, sprains)	Hand	2 to 8 weeks, longer after surgery
Foot injuries (sprains, fractures)	Foot and ankle	1 to 12 weeks depending on tissue
Collarbone fractures	Collarbone	6 to 12 weeks, 3+ months if plated
Elbow injuries (sprains, dislocations)	Elbow	2 to 12 weeks, months if complex
Concussions from crashes	Head	1 to 4 weeks, longer if persistent
Facial injuries (bruises, fractures)	Face	1 to 6 weeks, longer if fractured
Cuts and abrasions (from contact with sled)	Skin	A few days to 3 weeks

Head injuries (concussions) / sled head (micro-concussions)

A concussion is a functional disturbance of the brain caused by rapid acceleration of the head, not by a break in the skull. In bobsledding the head is shaken repeatedly as the sled tracks through curves at high g-forces and as the helmet contacts the cowling or the crew member in front, which is why athletes describe a dull, cumulative version of it as sled head.

Symptoms

• Headache or pressure in the head after a run, often building over the session
• Feeling slowed down, foggy, or unable to focus on the next start
• Dizziness or a sense that the track is still moving after you stop
• Sensitivity to light or noise, nausea
• Sleep is worse than usual and irritability increases

How serious it is: There is no useful grading system anymore, because early symptom severity predicts recovery better than any grade. The dividing line that matters is between a single event with symptoms that settle within days and repeated exposure that leaves you symptomatic between runs and between race weekends.

Typical time out: Most athletes are symptom free within one to four weeks and return through a stepwise progression, but symptoms lasting beyond a month, a history of previous concussions, or continued exposure to head acceleration can stretch this to several months.

See a doctor if: Go to an emergency department for loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, worsening headache, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or confusion that gets worse rather than better.

What helps

• Stop the session immediately and do not take another run that day, whatever the standings say
• Rest relatively for the first day or two, then start light aerobic activity that does not provoke symptoms rather than sitting in a dark room for a week
• Follow a graded return to sport supervised by a clinician, with sliding last and only after full push training is tolerated
• Treat neck pain and dizziness actively, since cervical and vestibular therapy shortens recovery in many cases
• Track exposure across the season, since instrumented mouthguard data shows head acceleration events accumulate in training as well as in racing

Neck injuries (strains, fractures)

The deep neck extensors and the trapezius hold the head against forces that multiply body weight through the curves, and a strain is a tearing of those muscle fibers or of the small ligaments between vertebrae. A fracture involves the vertebral body, the lamina, or a spinous process and is caused by a crash or by the head being driven into the sled.

Symptoms

• Stiffness and pain that make it hard to turn the head toward the mirror or the driver
• Muscle spasm along the back of the neck and into the shoulder blade
• Headache that starts at the base of the skull
• Pain when holding the head up in a tuck position
• Tingling or numbness running into an arm or hand

How serious it is: Muscle strains follow the usual grade 1 to 3 pattern, from a few torn fibers with full movement to a substantial tear with marked loss of motion. A bony injury is a different category: a stable spinous process fracture may heal in a collar, while any fracture involving the vertebral body or the canal is a serious injury managed in hospital.

Typical time out: A grade 1 strain settles in one to three weeks, a larger strain takes four to eight weeks, and a fracture keeps you out for three months or more depending on stability and whether surgery is needed.

See a doctor if: Numbness, weakness, or electric pain into the arms, midline bone tenderness after a crash, or an inability to rotate the head means immobilize and get imaging before anything else.

What helps

• Keep gentle movement going within the pain limit instead of holding the neck rigid, since prolonged collar use weakens the stabilizers
• Build isometric and then loaded strength in the deep neck flexors and extensors, which is the one physical quality that separates athletes who tolerate g-load from those who do not
• Add scapular and upper back strength so the neck is not working alone
• Check the seat, helmet fit, and head position in the sled, since a helmet that catches the cowling loads the neck every run
• Get imaging after any crash with midline bone pain rather than waiting to see how it feels tomorrow

Back injuries (muscle strains, herniated discs)

The lumbar erector spinae and quadratus lumborum work hard in the flexed pushing position, and a strain is a tear in those muscles or in the thoracolumbar fascia. A disc herniation is a bulge or rupture of the outer ring of an intervertebral disc that presses on a nerve root, provoked by repeated loaded flexion at the start and by compression through the curves.

Symptoms

• Deep aching across the low back after pushes or a session on the track
• Sharp catch when you bend forward or come out of the push position
• Pain, tingling, or numbness running down the back of one leg
• Morning stiffness that eases after moving
• Weakness in the foot or difficulty pushing off on one side

How serious it is: Muscular strains are graded 1 to 3 by how much tissue has torn and how much movement is lost. A disc problem is judged by whether pain is limited to the back, which usually settles, or radiates below the knee with numbness or weakness, which needs assessment.

Typical time out: A muscular strain takes two to six weeks. Disc related pain varies widely, from a few weeks with good management to three months or more, because nerve irritation settles on its own timetable and does not follow tissue healing.

See a doctor if: Numbness in the groin or saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, or a foot that drops are emergencies and need same day medical care.

What helps

• Keep moving early with walking and pain adapted loading, since strict bed rest makes back pain worse
• Load the posterior chain progressively with hip hinge patterns before returning to maximal pushes
• Train trunk endurance rather than only trunk strength, since the push and the ride both demand sustained bracing
• Manage push volume across the week instead of adding sled and gym load in the same block
• Reserve imaging for cases with nerve symptoms or no progress, because scans of pain free athletes often show disc changes anyway

Shoulder injuries (rotator cuff, dislocations)

The rotator cuff is four tendons that hold the humeral head centered in a shallow socket, and repeated hard pushing on the bar loads them along with the long head of the biceps. A dislocation is the humeral head leaving the socket entirely, usually forward, which typically happens when an arm is caught or forced back during a crash or a failed load.

Symptoms

• Pain over the outer upper arm, worse when lifting the arm to shoulder height
• Weakness pushing or reaching overhead
• Night pain when lying on that side
• A clunk or a feeling that the shoulder is about to slip
• Visible deformity and an arm held tight to the body after a dislocation

How serious it is: Cuff problems range from tendinopathy with pain but preserved strength, through partial tears, to a full thickness tear where a movement is genuinely weak. Dislocations are described by direction and by whether the joint went back in on its own, and each further dislocation makes the next one more likely.

Typical time out: Rotator cuff tendinopathy usually improves over six to twelve weeks with loading. A first time dislocation takes six to sixteen weeks depending on age and stability, and repair of a full thickness cuff tear or a stabilization procedure means four to six months or more.

See a doctor if: See a doctor promptly for a shoulder that stays out of joint, an arm you cannot lift at all after an injury, or numbness down the arm.

What helps

• Load the cuff progressively rather than resting it, starting with isometrics and moving to rotational and pressing strength
• Restore scapular control and thoracic mobility, since a stiff upper back forces the cuff to work at end range
• Adjust push bar height and hand position so the shoulder is not working at the limit of its range
• Use physical therapy from the start for any dislocation, because unguided returns are the main driver of recurrence
• Treat a corticosteroid injection as an exception for pain that blocks rehab, not a solution, since long term outcomes in tendon problems are worse with it

Wrist injuries (sprains, fractures)

A sprain tears the ligaments between the small carpal bones, most often the scapholunate ligament, while a fracture usually involves the distal radius or the scaphoid. Both come from the wrist being forced backward, either by a fall on an outstretched hand at the start or by the hand being loaded against the sled during a crash.

Symptoms

• Pain in the wrist when bearing weight through the hand
• Swelling and a wrist that will not extend as far as the other one
• Tenderness in the hollow at the base of the thumb
• Clicking or a sense of giving way when gripping
• Weak grip on that side

How serious it is: Ligament sprains follow grades 1 to 3, from stretched fibers to a complete tear with instability. Fractures are separated by whether the fragments are displaced, and a scaphoid fracture deserves special caution because it can be missed on the first x ray and heals poorly if it is.

Typical time out: A mild sprain takes two to four weeks, a complete ligament tear or a fracture takes six to twelve weeks in a cast, and displaced fractures fixed surgically need three to six months before full loaded pushing.

See a doctor if: Persistent tenderness at the base of the thumb after a fall needs imaging even if the first x ray was clear, and any visible deformity or numbness in the fingers needs urgent care.

What helps

• Immobilize a suspected scaphoid injury and reimage rather than assuming a clear film means no fracture
• Move the fingers, elbow, and shoulder throughout immobilization so only the wrist stiffens
• Rebuild grip and forearm strength progressively before returning to the push bar
• Use taping or a wrist brace during early return, then wean off it as strength returns
• Short cooling in the first hours helps the pain, but the recovery comes from graded loading afterward

Knee injuries (ACL, meniscus)

The anterior cruciate ligament runs through the center of the knee and stops the shin sliding forward and rotating, while the menisci are two cartilage wedges that spread load between thigh and shin. In bobsledding they are stressed by the explosive sprint start on ice, by the twist of the loading step into the sled, and by direct impact during a rollover.

Symptoms

• A pop at the moment of injury followed by rapid swelling within hours
• The knee giving way when you turn or push off
• Pain along the joint line when squatting deeply
• Locking or catching so the knee will not straighten fully
• Feeling unable to trust the leg on ice

How serious it is: Ligament injuries are graded 1 to 3, with grade 3 a complete tear of the ACL. Meniscus tears are described by pattern and location: a tear in the outer, blood supplied zone can heal or be repaired, while one in the inner zone often cannot.

Typical time out: A grade 1 sprain takes two to six weeks. A meniscus tear treated without surgery or trimmed arthroscopically takes six to twelve weeks, while ACL reconstruction or a meniscus repair means nine to twelve months before full push training, because the graft and the repair need time regardless of how good the leg feels.

See a doctor if: A knee that swells within an hour, will not straighten, or cannot take your weight should be assessed the same week rather than waited out.

What helps

• Get an early assessment for any knee that swells fast, since a missed ACL or a locked meniscus changes the whole plan
• Restore full extension and quadriceps activation first, because a knee that will not straighten never rehabilitates well
• Build single leg strength and landing control, then reintroduce sprint mechanics on the ice last
• Use criteria such as strength symmetry and hop testing to decide return, not the calendar alone
• Work on the loading step technique separately, since that twisting entry is where many knees are hurt

Hip injuries (strains, dislocations)

The adductors, hip flexors, and hamstring origin all attach around the pelvis and are torn by the violent extension and stride of the push start. A true hip dislocation, the femoral head leaving the socket, requires very high force and in this sport comes from a crash with the leg driven backward or the knee struck while bent.

Symptoms

• Sharp pain in the groin or at the front of the hip during a hard push
• Pain deep in the buttock when sitting or driving
• Stiffness getting into or out of the sled
• Clicking or pinching at the front of the hip in deep flexion
• A leg that looks rotated or shortened after a crash, with severe pain

How serious it is: Muscle strains use grades 1 to 3, from a pulled feeling with full strength to a complete tear or an avulsion off the bone. A dislocation is a surgical emergency in a different league entirely, because the blood supply to the femoral head is at risk the longer it stays out.

Typical time out: A grade 1 adductor or hip flexor strain takes two to four weeks, a grade 2 takes six to ten weeks, and a proximal hamstring avulsion or a dislocation means four to six months or more.

See a doctor if: A leg that looks out of position after a crash, or an inability to bear any weight on it, means an emergency department without delay.

What helps

• Load the adductors specifically with exercises like the Copenhagen adduction, which reduces groin problems in explosive sports
• Strengthen the hamstrings at long muscle length rather than only in the gym midrange
• Progress sprint volume on ice gradually, since spikes in maximal push work drive most of these strains
• Address hip mobility and pelvic control so the strain is not simply repeated at the next start
• See a physical therapist early for groin pain that keeps returning, because a persistent case often has more than one source

Rib injuries (bruises, fractures)

A bruise damages the periosteum and the intercostal muscles between the ribs, while a fracture is a crack in the rib itself. Both come from the torso being thrown against the sled wall in a curve or from a rollover, and the cramped in run position means the same spot is loaded again on every descent.

Symptoms

• Sharp pain on one spot of the chest wall when breathing in deeply
• Pain when coughing, laughing, or rolling over in bed
• Tenderness you can point to with one finger
• Shallow breathing because a full breath hurts
• Bruising or swelling over the ribs

How serious it is: A bruise hurts as much as a crack early on but settles steadily, while a fracture stays painful with deep breaths for weeks. Several ribs broken in more than one place, or a fracture with breathlessness, is a serious chest injury rather than a nuisance.

Typical time out: A bruise takes two to four weeks, a single undisplaced rib fracture takes four to eight weeks before contact with the sled wall is tolerable, and multiple fractures take longer.

See a doctor if: Shortness of breath, coughing blood, pain spreading to the shoulder tip, or a rising fever after a rib injury needs medical assessment the same day.

What helps

• Keep breathing deeply and cough with a pillow held against the ribs, since shallow breathing sets up chest infections
• Use pain relief deliberately so you can breathe fully, rather than as a way to keep sliding
• Avoid strapping the chest tightly, because restricting the ribcage does more harm than the support is worth
• Add padding and check the fit in the sled so the same contact point is not reloaded every run
• Return to pushing before returning to sliding, since the impact rather than the effort is what hurts

Hand injuries (fractures, sprains)

The metacarpals and the finger joints take the load of gripping the push bar and the steering rings, and the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb is stretched when the thumb is levered sideways. Fractures typically involve a metacarpal from a direct blow, while sprains come from a finger being caught on the bar or the cowling as the sled moves.

Symptoms

• Swelling across the back of the hand within hours
• Pain gripping the bar or holding the steering rings
• A finger that will not straighten or that sits at an angle
• Weak or painful pinch between thumb and index finger
• Bruising that spreads into the palm

How serious it is: Sprains are graded 1 to 3 by ligament damage and joint stability, and a complete thumb ulnar collateral tear often needs surgery because the torn end folds out of reach. Fractures are separated by whether the bone is angled or rotated, and rotation is what makes a finger cross over its neighbor when you make a fist.

Typical time out: A simple sprain takes two to four weeks, a stable metacarpal fracture takes four to eight weeks, and surgically fixed fractures or thumb ligament repairs take eight to sixteen weeks before full gripping.

See a doctor if: A finger that crosses over its neighbor when you close your fist, an open wound over a knuckle, or numbness in a fingertip needs to be seen quickly.

What helps

• Get an x ray for any hand injury that swells across the knuckles rather than assuming it is jammed
• Buddy tape a stable finger sprain and keep moving it, since stiff finger joints are hard to recover
• Start hand therapy early after immobilization for grip and tendon glide
• Check glove fit and bar grip, since a hand that slips takes the load unevenly
• Rebuild grip strength gradually before maximal push work rather than testing it in a race

Foot injuries (sprains, fractures)

The lateral ankle ligaments are sprained when the foot rolls inward on the spiked shoe at the start, and metatarsal stress fractures develop from repeated hard push offs on unforgiving ice. The rigid, minimally cushioned push shoe transmits most of that force straight into the forefoot.

Symptoms

• Pain and swelling on the outside of the ankle after a roll
• A localized ache in the forefoot that starts during pushes and lingers afterward
• Difficulty pushing off with full force on that side
• Bruising along the side of the foot
• Pain when walking barefoot on a hard floor

How serious it is: Ankle sprains follow grades 1 to 3 by ligament damage and instability. A stress fracture is different from a sudden break: it begins as bone pain during activity, then pain at rest, and it will keep worsening if the load is not reduced.

Typical time out: A grade 1 ankle sprain takes one to three weeks, a grade 3 takes six to twelve weeks, and a metatarsal stress fracture takes six to twelve weeks with a slow return of push volume, longer if the fifth metatarsal is involved because that bone heals poorly.

See a doctor if: Not being able to take four steps on the foot, bone tenderness over the malleolus or the fifth metatarsal, or pain that now hurts at rest at night means imaging rather than more strapping.

What helps

• Load an ankle sprain early with weight bearing and balance work rather than immobilizing it for weeks
• Do calf and foot intrinsic strengthening, since ankle sprains recur mostly when strength and balance are not restored
• Reduce push volume at the first sign of forefoot bone pain, because stress fractures respond to load management and to nothing else
• Review spike pattern and shoe fit, since the start shoe determines how force reaches the forefoot
• Use a brace or tape for the first months back on ice after a significant sprain

Collarbone fractures

The clavicle is the only bony strut between the arm and the trunk and it breaks most often in its middle third. In bobsledding it fails when an athlete falls onto the shoulder during loading or when the sled rolls and the shoulder takes the impact against the ice wall.

Symptoms

• Immediate sharp pain over the collarbone with an obvious lump or step
• Holding the arm against the body and being unable to lift it
• Pain when shrugging or moving the shoulder blade
• A grinding sensation with any arm movement
• Swelling and bruising over the front of the shoulder

How serious it is: The dividing line is displacement: an undisplaced or minimally displaced fracture heals reliably in a sling, while a fracture that is shortened, badly displaced, or in several fragments is more often fixed with a plate to avoid a poor union.

Typical time out: Six to twelve weeks for an undisplaced fracture before contact and pushing, and three to six months when the fracture is plated or heals slowly, since bone union has to precede any load through the shoulder.

See a doctor if: Skin tenting over the bone, an open wound, numbness in the arm, or breathlessness after the injury needs emergency assessment.

What helps

• Use a simple sling for comfort rather than a figure of eight bandage, which is no better and less comfortable
• Start elbow, wrist, and gentle shoulder movement early to prevent a frozen shoulder
• Confirm bone healing on imaging before pushing loads through the arm
• Rebuild scapular and cuff strength systematically once the fracture is united
• Discuss surgery with a specialist if the fracture is shortened or in several pieces, since that changes the timeline

Elbow injuries (sprains, dislocations)

The ulnar and radial collateral ligaments hold the elbow hinge together and are sprained when the joint is forced sideways or hyperextended. In the sled this happens when a hand stays fixed on the bar or the steering ring while the body is thrown, and a dislocation is the full displacement of the forearm bones behind the humerus.

Symptoms

• Pain on the inside or outside of the elbow when pushing or straightening the arm
• Swelling around the joint and loss of the last few degrees of extension
• A feeling of looseness when loading the arm
• Obvious deformity and severe pain after a dislocation
• Tingling into the ring and little finger

How serious it is: Sprains follow grades 1 to 3 by ligament damage and instability. Dislocations are split into simple, where only ligaments are torn, and complex, where a bone around the joint is also fractured, and the complex form is far more likely to leave lasting stiffness.

Typical time out: A grade 1 sprain takes two to four weeks. A simple dislocation takes six to twelve weeks with early movement, and a complex dislocation or a surgically repaired ligament means three to six months.

See a doctor if: A visibly deformed elbow, numbness in the hand, or a cold or pale forearm after the injury is an emergency because nerves and vessels run right past the joint.

What helps

• Start controlled movement within days of a simple dislocation, since prolonged immobilization is the main cause of permanent stiffness
• Regain full extension early, because the elbow loses it faster than any other joint
• Strengthen the forearm flexors and pronators, which act as dynamic stabilizers of the inner elbow
• Change hand placement on the bar if the elbow is being levered on every push
• Get imaging after any dislocation to rule out an associated fracture before starting rehab

Concussions from crashes

In a crash the sled tips and the athlete’s helmet grinds along the ice wall while the head is rapidly decelerated and rotated, which stretches nerve fibers and disturbs brain function without any structural break. Crew members in the back positions are particularly exposed because they cannot see the curve and cannot brace for it.

Symptoms

• Headache that starts within minutes to hours of the crash
• Confusion about what happened or a blank period around the impact
• Nausea, dizziness, or blurred vision
• Feeling emotional or unusually flat afterward
• Balance that feels off when standing or walking

How serious it is: Severity is judged by how many symptoms there are and how long they last, not by whether anyone was knocked out, since most concussions involve no loss of consciousness at all. Symptoms lasting beyond four weeks are treated as a persisting case and need specialist input.

Typical time out: One to four weeks in most cases, with a stepwise return that puts sliding last, and considerably longer where symptoms persist or where the athlete has had previous concussions.

See a doctor if: Any deteriorating consciousness, repeated vomiting, seizure, one pupil larger than the other, or neck pain with numbness after a crash means calling emergency services rather than driving to a clinic.

What helps

• Remove the athlete from the track after any suspected concussion and do not let them slide again that day
• Have a medical assessment before the next run, since crash concussions are frequently underreported in sliding sports
• Progress through light aerobic work, then push training, then sliding, with each step requiring no symptom return
• Treat neck and vestibular symptoms directly, because sliding sports load the neck heavily and neck problems mimic and prolong concussion symptoms
• Inspect and replace helmet and sled damage before returning, so the same failure does not repeat

Facial injuries (bruises, fractures)

The nasal bones, the cheekbone, and the orbital floor are the thin structures that break when the face strikes the sled cowling, the ice, or a visor driven inward. Bruising and lacerations come from the same contact, often when the visor lifts or the chin strap allows the helmet to shift during a rollover.

Symptoms

• Swelling and bruising around the eye or nose that develops quickly
• Nosebleed and a nose that looks or feels crooked
• Double vision or an eye that will not move fully in one direction
• Numbness over the cheek or upper lip
• Teeth that no longer meet the way they did

How serious it is: A bruise or a simple laceration is a cosmetic and comfort problem that heals. A fracture involving the orbit, the cheekbone, or the jaw is a different matter, and the features that mark it out are double vision, cheek numbness, and a changed bite.

Typical time out: Bruises and simple cuts allow return within one to two weeks. A nasal or orbital fracture usually means four to six weeks away from impact, and jaw or complex midface fractures take six to twelve weeks or more.

See a doctor if: Double vision, numbness across the cheek, a bite that has changed, or clear fluid running from the nose needs urgent specialist assessment.

What helps

• Assess for a concussion at the same time, since a face that took an impact means the brain did too
• See a doctor within days for a suspected nasal fracture, because it is far easier to reset early than after it sets
• Close deep cuts properly rather than taping them, especially near the eyelid or lip border
• Return to sliding only with a helmet and visor that fit and cannot shift on impact
• Protect the healing area from further contact even once it stops hurting, since bone unites slower than skin

Cuts and abrasions (from contact with sled)

The runners and the metal edges of the sled are sharpened for speed and cut skin readily, while sliding along an ice wall grinds away the outer layers in a burn like abrasion. Hands, forearms, and the outside of the thighs are most exposed during loading and in a rollover.

Symptoms

• Stinging, raw skin over the contact area
• Bleeding that is heavier than the wound looks, especially on the scalp or hands
• Grit or ice debris visible in the wound
• Increasing redness, warmth, or throbbing after a day or two
• Yellow discharge or a wound edge that opens rather than closing

How serious it is: A superficial abrasion involves only the outer skin and heals without a scar. A cut that gapes open, exposes fat or tendon, or was made by a runner needs proper closure and carries a real infection risk.

Typical time out: Most abrasions allow a return within a few days once they are covered. A cut that needed stitches means one to three weeks, longer if it crosses a joint or becomes infected.

See a doctor if: Spreading redness, a wound that throbs more on day three than on day one, fever, or a cut you cannot hold closed means seeing a clinician rather than another bandage.

What helps

• Clean the wound thoroughly with running water and remove all grit, since retained debris is the usual cause of infection
• Keep the wound covered and moist under a dressing rather than letting it dry into a hard scab
• Get deep or gaping cuts closed within hours, when closure works best
• Check tetanus cover after any wound made by metal or contaminated with ice debris
• Wear gloves and full length race clothing and keep runner covers on until the last moment before the start

First Aid for Soft Tissue Injuries: PEACE and LOVE

Sports medicine has moved on from RICE. The current guidance, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2019, splits care into the first days after the injury and everything that follows.

PEACE, the first two to three days

• Protect: unload the area and limit movement that hurts, but only briefly.
• Elevate: keep the limb above heart level when you can.
• Avoid anti-inflammatories: they may blunt the healing you need.
• Compress: a bandage or taping limits swelling.
• Educate: your body heals this on its own; passive treatments rarely speed it up.

LOVE, from day three onward

• Load: return to movement as pain allows, early loading builds tissue.
• Optimism: expectations shape recovery more than most people assume.
• Vascularization: easy cardio that does not hurt brings blood to the area.
• Exercise: restore strength, mobility and balance before returning to play.

Ice still helps with pain in the first hours. What changed is the evidence that long icing and routine anti-inflammatory drugs slow tissue repair.

How to Lower Your Risk in Bobsledding

• Train the neck under load all year, with isometric and then resisted work for the deep flexors, extensors, and side flexors, since the neck is what holds the head against the g-forces in every curve and it is the tissue most specific to this sport.
• Build the push start progressively, treating maximal sprint and sled push work as its own load that must rise in small steps, because the hamstring, adductor, and forefoot injuries in this sport nearly all follow a sharp jump in start volume.
• Fit the helmet, visor, and seat so the head does not contact the cowling or the athlete in front on every run, and replace a helmet after any significant impact.
• Inspect the sled before each session, checking runners, steering, bolts, and padding, since an equipment failure at speed is the mechanism behind the most serious injuries.
• Rehearse loading and bracing technique off ice until it is automatic, since the twist into the sled is where knees and hips are hurt and the brace position is what protects the ribs and spine on impact.
• Track head impact exposure across the whole season rather than counting crashes, because instrumented mouthguard data from a World Cup season shows that head acceleration events accumulate steadily through training days as well as competition days.

When to Stop and Get Medical Help

Most of the injuries on this page are treated at home. These signs are not.

• Any suspected concussion: confusion, a blank memory of the run, worsening headache, repeated vomiting, or a seizure means the athlete does not slide again that day and is assessed medically.
• Neck pain after a crash with midline bone tenderness, numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg means immobilizing the neck and calling for help rather than moving the athlete.
• A visibly deformed limb or joint, or a joint that will not move at all, means stopping and getting emergency care without attempting to reset it.
• Inability to bear weight on a leg, or to take four steps after an ankle or foot injury, means imaging before anything else.
• Breathlessness, coughing blood, or chest pain that spreads to the shoulder tip after a rib impact needs same day emergency assessment.
• A cold, pale, or numb hand or foot below an injury means the blood or nerve supply is threatened and is an emergency.

Sources

• McCradden MD, Cusimano MD, Frontiers in Neurology (systematic review of concussions in sledding sports)
• Journal of Athletic Training, Head Kinematics and Injury Analysis in Elite Bobsleigh Athletes Throughout a World Cup Tour

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you are hurt, a doctor or physiotherapist who can examine you is worth more than any web page. Last reviewed: August 2026.

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