14 Common Figure Skating injuries (Prevention & Treatment)

The 14 most common figure skating injuries: ankle sprains, ACL and meniscus damage, fractures, wrist injuries and concussions after falls.

Jumps and landings also cause rotator cuff strain, back and hip trouble, hand, elbow, neck and rib injuries, and each entry explains the cause and the warning signs to watch for.

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
Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in figure skaters, with a prevalence of greater than 50%.	figure skaters (mixed levels, per literature reviewed by Han et al.), review published 2018, citing earlier injury studies (Bloch, 1999)	Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)
Patellar tendinitis, the most common overuse injury across figure skating disciplines, has a reported prevalence of 8% to 25%.	figure skaters across singles, pairs, ice dance and synchronized disciplines, review published 2018, citing Campanelli et al., Dubravcic-Simunjak et al., and Kjaer and Larsson	Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)
One study of figure skaters recorded an injury incidence of 1.37 injuries per 1,000 hours of training.	figure skaters (Kjaer and Larsson study, as cited in the Han et al. review), review published 2018, cited study by Kjaer and Larsson	Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)
Stress fractures were reported in 20 of 107 (19.8%) female junior figure skaters in one cited study.	female junior figure skaters (Dubravcic-Simunjak et al., 2003, as cited in the Han et al. review), cited study 2003, review published 2018	Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)
In one study, competitive figure skaters had 16 (30.7%) acute injuries versus 36 (69.2%) overuse injuries.	competitive figure skaters (Smith and Micheli study, as cited in the Han et al. review), review published 2018, citing Smith and Micheli	Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)

Overview

Injury	Body area	Typical time out
Ankle Sprains	Ankle	1 to 8 weeks, longer if fully torn
Knee Injuries (ACL, Meniscus)	Knee	2 weeks to 12 months by injury
Fractures (Arms, Legs, Ribs)	Whole body	6 to 12 weeks, longer after surgery
Wrist Injuries (Sprains, Fractures)	Wrist	2 weeks to 3 months
Head Injuries (Concussions, from Falls or Collisions)	Head	1 to 4 weeks, longer if repeated
Shoulder Injuries (Rotator Cuff, Strains)	Shoulder	2 to 12 weeks, months after surgery
Back Injuries (Muscle Strains)	Lower back	1 to 3 weeks, months if bone stress
Hand Injuries (Fractures, Sprains)	Hand	2 to 8 weeks
Hip Injuries (Strains)	Hip	2 to 8 weeks, 3 months if torn
Elbow Injuries (Sprains, Dislocations)	Elbow	2 weeks to 3 months
Neck Injuries (Muscle Strain)	Neck	Days to 2 weeks
Foot Injuries (Sprains, Strains)	Foot	1 to 8 weeks, months if midfoot bone
Rib Injuries (Bruises, Fractures)	Chest	3 to 8 weeks
Dehydration	Whole body	Hours to 2 days
Adductor (Groin) Strain	Groin	2 to 8 weeks, 3 months if chronic
Achilles Tendinopathy	Ankle and heel	3 to 6 months to settle
Finger Collateral Ligament Sprain (Jammed Finger)	Finger	3 to 6 weeks, swelling lasts longer
Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Sprain (Skier’s Thumb)	Thumb	4 to 6 weeks, 3 months if repaired
Corneal Abrasion and Blunt Eye Injury	Eye	Days for a scratch, weeks if blunt
Toe Injuries (Bruised Nails and Toe Fractures)	Toe	Days for nails, 3 to 6 weeks if broken
Jaw and Dental Injury (Mandible Fracture, Broken Teeth)	Jaw and face	1 to 2 weeks, 6 to 8 if fractured

Ankle Sprains

A sprain tears fibers of the ligaments that hold the ankle together, most often the anterior talofibular ligament on the outside. In skating it usually happens when the blade catches a rut or the boot rolls over on an under-rotated landing, forcing the foot inward while the body weight is still coming down. Because a stiff boot normally protects the joint, a sprain that happens inside the boot often means a hard twist rather than a small stumble.

Symptoms

• Pain on the outside of the ankle right after a fall or a caught edge
• Swelling that builds over the first hours, sometimes with bruising below the ankle bone
• The joint feels loose or unreliable on landings and crossovers
• Lacing the boot to normal tightness hurts
• Limping on the walk off the ice

How serious it is: Grade 1 is a stretch with mild swelling and near normal walking, grade 2 a partial tear with clear swelling and an unstable feeling, grade 3 a complete tear where the joint gives way. Pain directly over the bone rather than the ligament raises the question of a fracture instead.

Typical time out: One to three weeks back on the ice for a grade 1, four to eight weeks for a grade 2, and three months or more for a grade 3 or a sprain with a small bone fragment. The range is wide because a skater needs more than pain free walking: the ankle has to hold a landing on one edge again.

See a doctor if: Get it examined if you cannot take four steps on the foot, if the bone itself is tender at the back edge of either ankle bone, or if the foot feels numb.

What helps

• Load the ankle early within the limit of pain instead of resting it completely, short cooling in the first hours is fine for pain
• Balance and proprioception work on one leg, progressing to unstable surfaces and then to eyes closed
• Calf and peroneal strengthening, since the muscles on the outside of the lower leg are what catch a rolling ankle
• A brace or taping for the first weeks back, mainly for confidence on jumps
• Imaging if you cannot weight bear or if bone tenderness persists, since fractures and sprains feel similar on day one

Knee Injuries (ACL, Meniscus)

The anterior cruciate ligament runs through the middle of the knee and stops the shin sliding forward and rotating, while the menisci are two cartilage wedges that spread load between thigh bone and shin. Skating loads both on single leg landings, where the knee absorbs several times body weight in a fraction of a second, and on the twisting entry of spins and turns. Repetitive jump landings also irritate the patellar tendon below the kneecap, which is the most common overuse problem in the sport.

Symptoms

• A pop or shift felt in the knee at the moment of a bad landing
• Swelling inside the joint within a few hours
• The knee gives way when you turn on it
• Locking or catching, so the leg will not fully straighten
• Aching pain just below the kneecap after jump sessions

How serious it is: ACL tears are graded 1 to 3, with grade 3 a complete rupture that usually needs reconstruction in a skater who wants to keep jumping. Meniscus injuries range from a small stable tear that settles with rehabilitation to a displaced flap that blocks the joint and needs surgery.

Typical time out: Two to six weeks for a mild sprain or a stable meniscus tear treated with rehabilitation, roughly nine to twelve months after ACL reconstruction before full jumping. Patellar tendinopathy is different again: it rarely stops you skating completely, but it commonly takes three to six months of loading work to settle.

See a doctor if: See a doctor promptly if the knee swells within a few hours, locks so it cannot be straightened, or buckles under you when you try to turn.

What helps

• Get a knee that swells fast assessed with imaging rather than waiting it out
• Progressive quadriceps and hamstring strengthening, then hopping and landing drills before jumps return
• Landing technique work off ice, so the knee tracks over the foot instead of collapsing inward
• For patellar tendinopathy, heavy slow or eccentric squat loading two or three times a week, with jump volume reduced rather than stopped
• Cortisone injections are a limited option at best around a tendon, useful short term for pain but associated with worse long term outcomes, so treat them as an exception

Fractures (Arms, Legs, Ribs)

A fracture is a break in the bone itself, from a hairline crack to a displaced break with fragments out of line. In skating the usual mechanisms are a fall onto an outstretched arm, a direct impact of hip or forearm on hard ice, and a lift or throw that ends with an uncontrolled landing. Bone stress injuries are a separate route to the same problem, where repeated jump landings outpace the bone’s ability to repair.

Symptoms

• Immediate sharp pain at one point that does not ease after a few minutes
• Swelling and later bruising over the site
• A visible bend, step or shortening of the limb
• You cannot use the limb normally, for example lifting the arm or standing on the leg
• Pain when someone presses on the bone rather than the surrounding muscle

How serious it is: The practical divide is between an undisplaced crack that heals in a cast or boot and a displaced or unstable break that needs to be set, pinned or plated. Fractures involving a joint surface or a growth plate in a young skater are more serious than the pain alone suggests.

Typical time out: Six to twelve weeks for most simple fractures to heal, then several more weeks to rebuild strength before full skating, and three to six months or longer when surgery or a joint surface is involved. Stress fractures usually need six to twelve weeks of reduced load plus a look at training volume, bone health and energy intake.

See a doctor if: Any visible deformity, bone poking against or through the skin, numbness or a cold pale hand or foot below the injury is an emergency.

What helps

• Splint the limb as found, do not try to straighten it, and get an x-ray the same day when a break is suspected
• Keep the rest of the body training during immobilization, including the uninjured side, which limits strength loss
• Once the cast or boot is off, rebuild range of motion first, then strength, then impact
• For stress fractures, review jump volume, on ice hours, sleep, calorie intake and menstrual health, because the bone failed for a reason
• Return to jumps in stages rather than in one session, since healed bone tolerates load gradually

Wrist Injuries (Sprains, Fractures)

Falling on an outstretched hand drives the whole body weight through the small carpal bones and the lower end of the radius. That either stretches and tears the ligaments between the carpal bones, or breaks the radius or the scaphoid, a small bone at the base of the thumb. Skaters land on the hand constantly while learning jumps, so this is one of the most repeated impact mechanisms in the sport.

Symptoms

• Pain across the wrist that spikes when you push up off the ice
• Swelling around the joint, sometimes only mild even when a bone is broken
• Tenderness in the hollow at the base of the thumb
• Reduced ability to bend the wrist back
• Weak grip, so carrying a bag or opening a bottle hurts

How serious it is: A simple sprain is sore and stiff but keeps a decent range of motion, while a fracture usually gives point tenderness over bone and pain on any loading. Scaphoid fractures deserve special caution: they often look harmless on an early x-ray but heal poorly if missed.

Typical time out: Two to four weeks for a mild sprain, six to twelve weeks for a distal radius fracture, and up to three months or more for a scaphoid fracture because its blood supply is poor. Off ice conditioning can usually continue throughout.

See a doctor if: Persistent tenderness in the hollow at the thumb side of the wrist after a fall needs imaging even if the first x-ray was clear.

What helps

• Splint and get imaging early rather than assuming it is only a sprain
• Learn and drill a falling technique that spreads impact along the forearm and hip instead of a locked straight arm
• Wrist guards during learning phases and for adult recreational skaters
• Grip and forearm strengthening once pain allows, then loading through the hand in a plank position before returning to falls
• Wrist mobility work after immobilization, since stiffness is often the bigger long term problem

Head Injuries (Concussions, from Falls or Collisions)

A concussion is a functional disturbance of the brain after an impact or a sudden acceleration of the head, not a structural injury visible on a routine scan. In skating it usually follows a backward fall where the back of the head strikes the ice, a collision during pairs or synchronized elements, or a dropped lift. The ice does not absorb any of the impact, which is why relatively ordinary looking falls can concuss.

Symptoms

• Headache or pressure in the head after the fall
• Feeling dazed, slowed down or in a fog
• Dizziness, nausea, or the rink seeming to move
• Sensitivity to bright light and noise
• Trouble concentrating at school or work in the following days

How serious it is: Grading systems are no longer used, because symptom pattern and duration matter more than the moment of injury. Most people recover within a few weeks, but loss of consciousness, repeated concussions or symptoms lasting beyond a month all mark a more serious course.

Typical time out: Typically one to four weeks from the fall to full return, with light activity starting within the first days rather than complete darkness and bed rest. Longer if symptoms persist, if this is a repeat concussion, or in younger skaters, who are usually managed more conservatively.

See a doctor if: Go to emergency care for worsening headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, unequal pupils, confusion that gets worse, or anyone who cannot be woken normally.

What helps

• Come off the ice immediately and do not return the same day, no matter how quickly the head clears
• Relative rest for the first day or two, then light aerobic activity below the symptom threshold rather than total inactivity
• Stepwise return: light exercise, then off ice skating specific drills, then non contact ice, then jumps and lifts
• Get medical clearance before returning to elements with a fall risk, especially lifts and throws
• Address neck stiffness and balance, because both often persist and both feed dizziness

Shoulder Injuries (Rotator Cuff, Strains)

The rotator cuff is four tendons that center the head of the upper arm bone in its shallow socket, and the acromioclavicular joint sits on top where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. Pair skaters load the cuff heavily holding a partner overhead, while a fall onto the point of the shoulder is what typically sprains the acromioclavicular joint or dislocates the shoulder. Landing on an outstretched arm can also lever the joint out of place.

Symptoms

• Pain in the outer upper arm when reaching overhead
• Weakness lifting or holding a load above head height
• Night pain when lying on that side
• A tender bump on top of the shoulder after a direct fall
• A feeling that the shoulder is about to slip out on certain positions

How serious it is: Acromioclavicular injuries are described as type I to type III for the common range, with type I a sprain, type II a partial tear and a slight step, type III a full separation with an obvious bump. Cuff problems run from tendon irritation through partial tears to a full thickness tear that leaves genuine weakness rather than only pain.

Typical time out: Two to six weeks for a mild strain or a type I separation, six to twelve weeks for a type III or a shoulder that has dislocated once, and four to six months after surgical cuff repair or stabilization. Pair skaters take longer than singles skaters because overhead lifting demands full strength, not just comfort.

See a doctor if: Seek care the same day if the shoulder looks squared off or clearly out of place, or if the arm or hand is numb or weak.

What helps

• Progressive rotator cuff and scapular strengthening, which outperforms rest for most cuff pain
• Keep the shoulder moving early inside a pain free range instead of wearing a sling longer than instructed
• For pair teams, rebuild overhead capacity with a weighted object before a partner
• Imaging when weakness rather than pain is the main problem, since that suggests a real tear
• Cortisone injections may buy a short window for rehabilitation but do not repair a tendon, so they belong to the exception, not the plan

Back Injuries (Muscle Strains)

The erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles along the lower spine control extension and side bending, and they strain when the trunk is forced past what the muscle can control. Skating loads them in layback spins, deep arabesques, jump landings that arch the back, and lifting a partner. Repeated forced extension can also stress the small bony bridge at the back of the vertebra, which matters especially in adolescent skaters.

Symptoms

• Aching or sharp pain across the lower back after spins or lifts
• Stiffness that is worst in the morning or after sitting
• Muscle spasm that pulls you to one side
• Pain on arching backwards, particularly on one leg
• Difficulty holding a spiral or layback position for the usual length

How serious it is: A simple muscle strain hurts on movement, eases with position changes and settles over days to weeks. Pain that is one sided, worse on extension on a single leg and persists beyond two or three weeks in a young skater needs assessment for a bone stress injury of the spine rather than a muscle problem.

Typical time out: One to three weeks for a straightforward muscle strain, with modified skating usually possible earlier than full training. Two to three months or more if a bone stress injury of the lower spine is found, because that requires removing extension load until the bone settles.

See a doctor if: Get checked urgently for numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or leg weakness, and non urgently for one sided back pain that keeps returning.

What helps

• Keep moving and return to gentle skating early, since prolonged rest slows recovery of back pain
• Build trunk endurance rather than only flexibility, including anti rotation and anti extension work
• Improve hip extension and thoracic spine mobility, so the lower back is not the only segment arching
• Manage the volume of layback spins and deep extension positions across a training week
• Imaging when pain is one sided and extension based in a growing skater, rather than another course of stretching

Hand Injuries (Fractures, Sprains)

The hand contains the metacarpals in the palm and the small joints of the fingers, held by thin collateral ligaments. In skating the hand takes the first contact in most falls, and it is also the part that another skater’s blade reaches during a collision or a dropped element. Blades are sharp, so a hand injury on ice can combine a cut with a break underneath.

Symptoms

• Pain and swelling across the back of the hand after a fall
• A knuckle that looks flattened or sunken when you make a fist
• Difficulty gripping, so holding a bag or a pen is awkward
• A finger that crosses over its neighbor when the hand is closed
• Bruising spreading into the palm over a day or two

How serious it is: Undisplaced metacarpal fractures and simple ligament sprains do well with a few weeks of protection. Rotational deformity, a joint surface break or an open wound over a knuckle push this into the group that needs prompt specialist care.

Typical time out: Two to three weeks for a sprain, four to eight weeks for most hand fractures, and longer when a joint or tendon is involved. Skaters often return to the ice earlier than full recovery with the hand protected, since the legs do the work.

See a doctor if: A finger that rotates or crosses others when you make a fist, or any cut over a knuckle from a blade, needs same day medical attention.

What helps

• Remove rings early, before swelling makes it impossible
• Buddy taping for stable finger sprains, keeping the joint moving instead of fully immobile
• X-ray for any knuckle that looks out of line or is tender directly on bone
• Early gentle range of motion work, since hand stiffness sets in fast and is hard to reverse
• Gloves on the ice, which do not stop fractures but reduce cuts and the cold that masks pain

Hip Injuries (Strains)

Hip strains involve the hip flexors at the front, the adductors on the inside and the gluteal muscles behind, where muscle fibers tear near the tendon. Skating loads them at the extremes of range: the free leg held high in a spiral, the snap into a tight air position, and the deep hold of a layback. Bruising the point of the hip is also common, since the outer hip bone is what first meets the ice in a sideways fall.

Symptoms

• Pain at the front or inside of the hip when lifting the leg
• A pulling sensation on entering a spiral or a high kick
• Stiffness and soreness the morning after a heavy session
• Weakness pushing off on that leg
• A deep ache at the side of the hip after a fall onto it

How serious it is: Muscle strains follow the usual grade 1 to 3 scale, from a few torn fibers with full strength to a complete tear with visible bruising and marked weakness. In adolescent skaters, a sudden pull with an audible pop can pull off a piece of bone at the muscle’s attachment instead of tearing the muscle.

Typical time out: Two to four weeks for a grade 1 strain, four to eight weeks for a grade 2, and three months or more for a complete tear or an avulsion in a young athlete. The upper end of the range applies when the muscle has to reach full stretch again for spirals and split positions.

See a doctor if: See a doctor if you heard a pop and cannot lift the leg against gravity, or if hip pain came on without a clear incident and hurts at night.

What helps

• Strengthen through range rather than only stretching, since a strained muscle is usually short on capacity
• Adductor and hip flexor loading with slow controlled repetitions, added back gradually
• Return extreme positions such as spirals and Biellmann holds last, not first
• Balance training load across the week so the same leg is not the takeoff leg every session
• Assessment if hip pain sits in the groin, pinches on deep flexion and does not settle, since that can be joint rather than muscle

Elbow Injuries (Sprains, Dislocations)

The elbow is a tight hinge held by collateral ligaments on each side, and it dislocates when a fall onto an outstretched hand drives the forearm backwards while the arm is partly bent. Skaters meet exactly that mechanism when they catch themselves on hard ice with a straight arm. Milder versions stretch the inner ligament without the joint coming apart.

Symptoms

• Immediate severe pain with an obviously distorted elbow in a dislocation
• Swelling around the joint within minutes
• Inability to bend or straighten the elbow fully
• Pain on the inner side when pushing up off the ice
• Pins and needles into the ring and little finger

How serious it is: A simple sprain leaves the joint in place with pain at end range, while a dislocation means the joint has come apart and must be reduced by a professional. Dislocations combined with a fracture around the elbow are far more serious and often need surgery.

Typical time out: Two to four weeks for a mild sprain, six to twelve weeks after a simple dislocation, and three to six months when a fracture is involved. Elbows are prone to permanent stiffness, so early controlled movement matters more here than in most joints.

See a doctor if: A visibly deformed elbow, or numbness and a cold hand below the injury, is an emergency and needs a hospital, not a rink first aid room.

What helps

• Never try to put a dislocated elbow back yourself, splint it as it lies and go to hospital
• Start gentle active movement early once cleared, because prolonged immobilization is the main cause of a permanently stiff elbow
• Progressive strengthening of the biceps, triceps and forearm before loading through the hand again
• Avoid forced passive stretching to regain range, which tends to make elbow stiffness worse
• Retrain falling technique so the arm is not locked straight on contact

Neck Injuries (Muscle Strain)

The muscles running from the skull to the shoulder blades and upper ribs, including the upper trapezius and the deep neck flexors, strain when the head is thrown suddenly out of line. In skating that happens on a backward fall where the head snaps back, during fast rotation in spins, and when a lift or throw goes wrong. The same mechanism that strains the neck often produces a concussion, so the two travel together.

Symptoms

• Stiffness and pain across the back of the neck, often worse the next morning
• Difficulty turning the head to check over one shoulder
• Headache starting at the base of the skull
• Aching spreading into the shoulder blade
• Dizziness when moving the head quickly

How serious it is: A muscle strain gives local pain and restricted movement but normal strength and sensation in the arms. Pain with numbness, tingling or weakness travelling into the arm suggests nerve involvement and is a different problem that needs assessment.

Typical time out: A few days to two weeks for a simple strain, with light skating usually possible within that time. Four to six weeks or more if the neck was injured with a concussion, since both need to settle before rotation and falls resume.

See a doctor if: Any neck pain after a fall that comes with numbness, weakness in the arms or legs, or midline bone tenderness needs immediate medical assessment and no further skating that day.

What helps

• Keep the neck moving gently within comfort rather than holding it rigid, and skip collars unless a doctor prescribes one
• Deep neck flexor and scapular strengthening, which reduces recurrence better than stretching alone
• Short heat and gentle massage for muscle spasm in the first days
• Check for concussion symptoms alongside the neck pain after any head contact
• Reintroduce fast spins last, since rotation aggravates both neck strain and residual dizziness

Foot Injuries (Sprains, Strains)

The foot carries the plantar fascia along the sole, the small ligaments of the midfoot and the tendons that pass around the ankle bones. A stiff skating boot clamps all of this in one position for hours, which produces pressure injuries such as lace bite over the front of the ankle and bursitis at the back of the heel, alongside true sprains from twists on landing. Blade placement and boot fit determine how much of that load the foot has to absorb.

Symptoms

• Burning or sharp pain over the front of the ankle where the laces cross
• Pain under the heel with the first steps in the morning
• A tender swollen bump at the back of the heel where the boot rim sits
• Arch pain that builds through a session and eases when the boot comes off
• Numbness or tingling in the toes during skating

How serious it is: Most foot problems in skating are pressure and overuse issues that resolve once the boot is adjusted. A sprain that swells across the middle of the foot with bruising in the sole is more serious and needs imaging, because midfoot injuries are easy to underestimate.

Typical time out: One to three weeks for lace bite or heel bursitis once the boot is modified, four to eight weeks for a midfoot sprain, and several months if a bone in the midfoot is involved. Plantar fascia pain often takes two to three months of loading work but rarely stops skating completely.

See a doctor if: Bruising in the sole of the foot after a twist, or inability to put weight through the ball of the foot, needs an x-ray before you skate again.

What helps

• Fix the boot first: punch out pressure points, adjust lacing, skip an eyelet over a sore spot, and replace boots that have broken down
• Padding under the lace line or behind the heel for pressure injuries
• Calf and intrinsic foot strengthening, including heel raises with the toes loaded
• Check blade mounting and alignment, since a blade set off center makes the foot fight the boot every stroke
• Custom insoles when a specific mechanical fault is identified, not as a routine purchase

Rib Injuries (Bruises, Fractures)

A direct impact can bruise the muscles between the ribs, tear the cartilage where a rib joins the breastbone, or crack the rib itself. Skaters meet this in falls from lifts, collisions in pairs and synchronized skating, and impacts against the boards. The ribs move with every breath, which is why these injuries are unusually persistent even when nothing is broken.

Symptoms

• Sharp pain on taking a deep breath, coughing or laughing
• Pain when rolling over in bed or getting up from lying down
• A tender spot you can locate with one finger
• Bruising over the chest wall or side
• Shallow breathing because full breaths hurt

How serious it is: A bruise or a single undisplaced cracked rib is painful but heals on its own. Several ribs broken together, difficulty breathing, or pain in the left lower ribs with feeling faint are warning signs of injury to the lung, spleen or liver underneath.

Typical time out: Three to six weeks for a bruise, four to eight weeks for a cracked rib, and longer where several ribs are involved. Deep breathing and rotation are what stays uncomfortable longest, so spins and lifts return later than basic skating.

See a doctor if: Shortness of breath, coughing blood, feeling faint, or spreading pain into the left shoulder after a chest impact requires emergency care.

What helps

• Take regular deep breaths and cough on purpose several times a day, even though it hurts, to keep the lung bases clear
• Adequate pain relief, because pain that stops you breathing deeply is what causes chest infections
• Avoid tight binders that restrict the chest, which are no longer recommended
• Sleep propped slightly upright in the first week if lying flat is painful
• Return contact elements and lifts only when a full breath is pain free

Dehydration

Dehydration is a fluid deficit that reduces blood volume and impairs temperature regulation and concentration. Skaters lose more than they expect, because a cold rink suppresses thirst while heavy training clothing, long sessions and repeated maximal jump efforts still produce real sweat losses. The cold also increases urine output, so fluid leaves the body by a route athletes rarely account for.

Symptoms

• Thirst, dry mouth and dark concentrated urine
• Headache and difficulty concentrating late in a session
• Legs feeling heavy and jumps losing height toward the end of practice
• Muscle cramps, especially in the calves
• Dizziness on standing up quickly

How serious it is: Mild dehydration shows up as reduced performance and concentration and resolves with drinking. Confusion, fainting, a rapid pulse or an athlete who has stopped sweating in a warm environment is a medical emergency.

Typical time out: Hours for mild dehydration once fluids are replaced, one to two days if performance and sleep have been affected. Repeated dehydration alongside inadequate calorie intake is a longer problem and belongs with a sports dietitian rather than a rest day.

See a doctor if: Confusion, fainting or a skater who cannot be roused needs emergency care rather than a drink and a sit down.

What helps

• Bring a bottle onto the ice and drink at set points in the session instead of waiting for thirst
• Check urine color first thing in the morning as a simple day to day gauge
• Include sodium in drinks for long or heavy sessions, since plain water alone dilutes the blood in high sweat conditions
• Weigh before and after a demanding session occasionally to learn your own losses
• Treat persistent fatigue, cramping and poor recovery as a nutrition question, not only a hydration one

Adductor (Groin) Strain

The adductor muscles run from the pubic bone down the inside of the thigh and pull the leg toward the midline, with adductor longus the most commonly injured. Skating strains them on wide crossovers and pushes, on the sudden snap of the legs into a tight air position, and on landings where the leg is forced outward. Repeated loading at the pubic attachment can also produce a persistent groin pain that builds over weeks rather than tearing in one moment.

Symptoms

• Sharp pain on the inside of the thigh during a push or a wide stroke
• Tenderness you can trace up toward the pubic bone
• Pain when squeezing the knees together
• Stiffness in the groin the morning after training
• Weaker push off on that side, so crossovers feel uneven

How serious it is: Grade 1 is a minor tear with pain but near normal strength, grade 2 a partial tear with clear weakness on squeezing, grade 3 a complete tear with marked bruising. Pain centered on the pubic bone that came on gradually is a different, slower problem than a sudden muscle tear.

Typical time out: Two to four weeks for a grade 1, four to eight weeks for a grade 2, and three months or more for a complete tear or a long standing pubic bone related groin pain. The gradual onset type takes longest because the tissue has been failing for weeks before the skater stops.

See a doctor if: See a doctor if you felt a pop with immediate severe weakness, or if groin pain persists past three weeks despite reduced training.

What helps

• Progressive adductor strengthening, including a long lever side lying squeeze program, which has good evidence for both treatment and prevention
• Load the leg early inside pain limits rather than resting until it feels normal
• Build hip abductor and gluteal strength as well, so the inside of the hip is not doing all the work
• Increase on ice volume in steps after a break rather than resuming full sessions
• Assessment if pain sits on the pubic bone or radiates into the lower abdomen, since several structures overlap there

Achilles Tendinopathy

The Achilles tendon joins the calf muscles to the heel bone and takes the full load of every push and landing. In skating, the rigid boot holds the ankle in a fixed position and the boot rim presses directly against the tendon and the bursa behind the heel, so irritation is often mechanical as much as it is load related. The insertional form, where the tendon meets the heel bone, is the one most affected by boot pressure.

Symptoms

• Morning stiffness in the tendon that eases after a few minutes of walking
• Pain at the back of the heel where the boot rim sits
• A tender thickened section of tendon a few centimeters above the heel
• Pain that warms up during a session and returns worse afterwards
• Discomfort pushing up onto the toes

How serious it is: Early tendinopathy hurts at the start of activity and settles once warm, while an advanced case hurts throughout and limits daily walking. A sudden severe pain with a feeling of being kicked in the calf, followed by inability to push off, suggests a rupture and is a different emergency.

Typical time out: Rarely a full stop, but three to six months of structured loading before the tendon is reliably comfortable, with skating continued at reduced jump volume. Nine to twelve months after a full rupture, whether or not it is repaired surgically.

See a doctor if: A sudden snap at the back of the ankle with an inability to rise onto the toes needs same day medical assessment.

What helps

• Heavy slow calf loading, progressing from both legs to one leg, three times a week over months rather than weeks
• Reduce jump and impact volume without stopping loading, because a tendon that is unloaded gets weaker
• Modify the boot: pad or punch the heel counter, adjust lacing, and check the boot has not broken down
• Avoid deep stretching of the tendon in the insertional form, since compressing it against the heel bone makes it worse
• Cortisone injection into the tendon is not appropriate here, short term relief comes at the cost of a weaker tendon

Finger Collateral Ligament Sprain (Jammed Finger)

The small joints of the finger are stabilized by collateral ligaments on either side, and the volar plate on the palm side stops the joint bending backwards. A finger jammed straight into the ice during a fall, or caught in a partner’s costume or hand during a lift, forces the joint sideways or backwards and tears these structures. The middle joint of the finger is the one most often affected.

Symptoms

• Immediate pain and rapid swelling around one finger joint
• The joint stays thick and stiff for weeks
• Pain when the finger is pushed sideways
• Difficulty making a full fist
• A finger that will not fully straighten

How serious it is: A partial ligament tear is stable when tested and does well with taping, while a complete tear leaves the joint opening sideways and may need splinting or referral. A joint that is dislocated or has a fragment of bone pulled off needs proper assessment rather than being pulled back into line at the rink.

Typical time out: Skating usually continues within days with the finger taped. Three to six weeks for pain to settle and up to six months for the joint swelling and stiffness to fully resolve, which surprises most people.

See a doctor if: A finger that is visibly out of joint, will not bend at all, or is numb and pale needs medical attention rather than self reduction.

What helps

• Buddy tape to the neighboring finger and keep moving it, since stiffness is the main long term consequence
• Early gentle bending and straightening several times a day
• X-ray when the joint is deformed, unstable or tender directly on bone
• Hand therapy if the joint has not regained full motion by six weeks
• Accept a slightly thicker joint as a likely permanent result, it does not mean treatment failed

Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Sprain (Skier’s Thumb)

The ulnar collateral ligament runs along the inner side of the base joint of the thumb and holds it steady during pinching and gripping. A fall onto an outstretched hand with the thumb splayed away from the palm levers the thumb sideways and tears the ligament. Skaters produce exactly that position when they land palm down on ice with the hand spread.

Symptoms

• Pain at the web between thumb and index finger after a fall
• Swelling around the base of the thumb
• Weak pinch grip, so turning a key or holding a cup is difficult
• A sense that the thumb wobbles sideways under load
• Bruising spreading into the palm

How serious it is: A partial tear stays stable when the thumb is stressed sideways and heals with splinting. A complete tear may leave the torn ligament end trapped outside a tendon, which will not heal without surgery, so persistent instability is not something to wait out.

Typical time out: Four to six weeks in a thumb splint for a partial tear, with off ice conditioning throughout. Two to three months after surgical repair of a complete tear, and grip strength returns last.

See a doctor if: If the thumb clearly gives way sideways when tested, or pinch grip stays weak beyond a couple of weeks, get it assessed for a complete tear.

What helps

• Splint the thumb early and get it examined, since the difference between partial and complete tears decides everything
• Ultrasound or MRI when instability is present, rather than another few weeks of waiting
• Once healed, progressive pinch and grip strengthening before returning to lifts and holds
• Protective thumb taping for the first weeks back on the ice
• Falling practice that avoids landing with the hand splayed wide

Corneal Abrasion and Blunt Eye Injury

The cornea is the clear surface at the front of the eye, and it scratches easily, while a blunt impact can bleed inside the front chamber of the eye or fracture the thin bone of the orbit. In skating the risks come from ice chips thrown up by blades, a stray hand or elbow during pairs and synchronized work, and a skate blade reaching head height in a fall. A blade to the face is rare but is the reason eye injuries in this sport can be severe rather than trivial.

Symptoms

• A gritty feeling as if something is stuck under the eyelid
• Watering, redness and strong sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision on the affected side
• Difficulty keeping the eye open
• Pain around the eye socket after a direct blow, sometimes with double vision

How serious it is: A simple corneal abrasion is very painful but heals within days without lasting damage. Blood visible in the front of the eye, double vision, a pupil that has changed shape, or vision loss all indicate a serious injury that needs emergency ophthalmic care.

Typical time out: Two to five days for a corneal abrasion to heal. Two weeks or more for a blunt injury with bleeding inside the eye, and several weeks with a strict avoidance of impact if an orbital fracture is present.

See a doctor if: Any loss or distortion of vision, blood visible in the eye, an irregular pupil, or double vision after a blow needs emergency care the same day.

What helps

• Do not rub the eye and do not try to remove anything embedded in it
• Rinse with clean saline for surface irritants such as ice chips
• Get any injury with changed vision seen the same day, since delay is what costs sight
• Lubricating drops and a medical review for a suspected abrasion, plus checking that no contact lens fragment remains
• Return to lifts, throws and close formation work only after clearance, because a second impact matters more than the first

Toe Injuries (Bruised Nails and Toe Fractures)

The toes sit at the tightest point of a skating boot, where a hard toe box presses the nails and the small bones of the forefoot against the boot on every landing. Bleeding under the nail comes from repeated impact of the toe against the boot end, while a fracture of a toe bone usually follows a fall, a dropped weight off ice or a direct kick from a blade or a boot. A boot that is even slightly short concentrates all of this on the longest toe.

Symptoms

• Throbbing pain under a nail that is worst in the hours after skating
• A dark red or black nail that later lifts off
• A toe that is swollen and bruised and hurts on every push off
• Pain when the toe is pressed from tip toward the foot
• Numbness or burning across the toes during a session

How serious it is: Bleeding under the nail and bruised toes are painful nuisances that resolve, though the nail may take months to regrow. A toe that is crooked, or a break at the base of the little toe side of the foot, needs proper assessment because those affect how the foot loads.

Typical time out: Skating often continues with padding for nail problems. Three to six weeks for a broken toe, longer if the big toe or a forefoot bone is involved, since those carry the push off.

See a doctor if: A visibly crooked toe, a break involving the big toe, or intense pressure under a nail that does not ease should be seen by a professional.

What helps

• Fix boot length and toe box shape first, because almost all recurring toe problems are fit problems
• Keep toenails cut straight and short, since a long nail hits the boot end on every landing
• Padding or a toe cap over a bruised toe, and taping a broken small toe to its neighbor
• Drainage of a painful blood collection under the nail is a medical procedure, not a rink fix
• Have persistent numbness in the toes checked, as this often means the boot is compressing a nerve

Jaw and Dental Injury (Mandible Fracture, Broken Teeth)

A forward fall drives the chin into the ice, which can break the lower jaw bone, dislocate the temporomandibular joint on one side, or chip and knock out front teeth. The chin acts as a lever, so a break can occur on the opposite side of the jaw from the point of impact, near the joint. Ice gives nothing on impact, which is why a chin strike that would be harmless on a mat can break bone here.

Symptoms

• Pain in front of the ear when opening or closing the mouth
• The teeth no longer meet in their usual bite
• Numbness of the lower lip and chin
• Bleeding at the gum line or a loose or missing tooth
• Difficulty opening the mouth more than a small amount

How serious it is: A bruised chin with a normal bite and normal sensation usually needs nothing beyond monitoring. A changed bite, numbness of the lower lip, or a jaw that will not close indicates a fracture or dislocation and needs urgent maxillofacial care.

Typical time out: One to two weeks for a bruise. Six to eight weeks for a jaw fracture, with a soft or liquid diet for much of that time, and no contact or fall risk elements until cleared.

See a doctor if: A bite that has changed, numbness of the lower lip, or an inability to close the mouth after a chin impact is an urgent problem, and any head impact also needs a concussion check.

What helps

• Assume a concussion is possible with any chin impact and apply the same come off the ice rule
• Keep a knocked out adult tooth moist in milk or saliva and get to a dentist within the hour, since replanting is time critical
• Soft diet and no wide yawning while a jaw injury settles
• A custom fitted mouthguard for skaters learning high fall risk elements, which protects teeth and the jaw joint
• Dental review even for a chipped tooth without pain, because damage to the nerve inside shows up later

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 Figure Skating

• Treat boot fit as equipment maintenance, not a one time purchase: get the length and width checked, punch out pressure points, and replace boots once the ankle support has broken down, because a soft boot changes how every landing loads the ankle and knee
• Count jumps rather than hours. Track how many landings each leg takes per week and increase that number in steps, since almost all skaters land on the same leg and the overuse injuries in this sport follow landing volume
• Build single leg strength off ice, especially calves, quadriceps and hips, so the leg absorbs the landing instead of the joint doing it passively
• Practice falling as a skill, learning to land on the forearm and the side of the body rather than a locked straight arm, which is what drives most wrist and elbow injuries here
• Protect the head during learning phases: a soft padded helmet for beginners, for adults, and for anyone working new jumps or lifts is far cheaper than a concussion
• Support the training load with sleep and enough food, since stress fractures in this sport cluster in skaters whose intake does not match their training

When to Stop and Get Medical Help

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

• A visible deformity of any limb, a bone under tension against the skin, or a joint that will not move at all
• Any head impact followed by confusion, vomiting, a worsening headache or loss of consciousness
• Numbness, tingling, weakness or a cold pale hand or foot below an injury
• Inability to bear weight on the leg for even a few steps after a fall
• Difficulty breathing, coughing blood, or feeling faint after an impact to the chest or upper abdomen
• Neck pain after a fall combined with midline bone tenderness or symptoms in the arms or legs

Sources

• Han JS, Geminiani ET, Micheli LJ. Epidemiology of Figure Skating Injuries: A Review of the Literature. Sports Health, 2018 (PMID 29738281)

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.

Frequently Asked Questions