A day on the mountain can quickly turn from fun to painful after a fall or collision. Skiing and snowboarding place stress on joints, bones, and muscles, especially when speed, uneven terrain, or icy conditions are involved. Fortunately, many common injuries can be evaluated and treated quickly at urgent care. Knowing which injuries urgent care can manage, and which require emergency services, can help you make the right decision quickly after an accident.

Need rapid injury treatment? Visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Denver Highlands. Our team is available 7 days a week to evaluate your condition and plan the best care. Simply walk-in or plan your visit in advance below.

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Common Ski and Snowboard Injuries

Both skiing and snowboarding involve twisting, sudden stops, and impact with hard surfaces. While the specific injury patterns differ slightly between the two sports, several types of injuries are common. Skiers are more likely to experience knee injuries due to rotational forces and fixed ski bindings. Snowboarders, who often fall onto outstretched hands, commonly injure their wrists and shoulders.

Frequent injuries include:

• Sprains and strains
• Minor to moderate fractures
• Wrist injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee injuries
• Contusions (deep bruises)
• Mild concussions

Many of these can be safely evaluated at an urgent care center.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle or tendon injuries) are among the most common slope-related issues. These often affect the knee, ankle, wrist, or shoulder. Urgent care centers can perform a physical exam, assess joint stability, order X-rays if needed, provide braces, splints, or wraps, and recommend recovery guidance. If a more serious ligament tear is suspected, referral to an orthopedic specialist may follow.

Suspected Fractures

Falls at high speeds can result in broken bones. Urgent care centers are equipped to evaluate many simple or stable fractures, especially in the wrist, forearm, ankle, or collarbone. On-site X-rays can confirm a fracture, and providers can:

• Immobilize the injury with a splint
• Provide a temporary cast in some cases
• Prescribe pain management
• Arrange orthopedic follow-up

However, complex fractures, open fractures (bone through skin), or injuries involving significant deformity typically require emergency room care.

Wrist and Shoulder Injuries

Snowboarders frequently injure their wrists when bracing during a fall. Shoulder injuries, including dislocations or rotator cuff strains, are also common in both sports. Urgent care can assess range of motion, check for fractures, and sometimes reduce simple shoulder dislocations. Most complicated joint injuries may require referral for advanced imaging or orthopedic evaluation.

Knee Injuries

Knee pain after skiing is very common, particularly involving the medial collateral ligament (MCL) or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Urgent care providers can evaluate swelling, instability, and range of motion. While urgent care cannot perform MRI scans on-site, they can:

• Rule out fractures
• Provide knee fractures
• Recommend rest and ice
• Refer to orthopedics if ligament tears are suspected

Prompt evaluation helps prevent worsening injury.

Cuts, Lacerations, Bruises, and Mild Concussions

Sharp ski edges or collisions can cause cuts or deep bruising. Urgent care can clean wounds, provide stitches or skin adhesive when needed, and assess for deeper tissue damage. Tetanus updates may also be provided if appropriate. Head injuries can occur during falls, even with helmets. If someone experiences headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion after a fall, urgent care can evaluate for signs of concussion. However, symptoms such as repeated vomiting, worsening confusion, severe headache, or loss of consciousness require immediate emergency care.

When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead

While urgent care handles many slope injuries, certain situations call for emergency services, including:

• Severe head injury or prolonged unconsciousness
• Neck or spinal pain after a high-impact fall
• Open fractures
• Severe bleeding
• Obvious bone deformity
• Chest pain or breathing difficulty

Early evaluation helps determine whether rest and conservative treatment are enough, or if specialist care is needed.

Get Same-Day Ski & Snowboard Injury Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Denver Highlands in Denver, CO

Urgent care can treat many common ski and snowboard injuries, including sprains, simple fractures, wrist and shoulder injuries, knee pain, and cuts. More severe or life-threatening injuries require emergency care. If you’re injured on the slopes and unsure about the severity, urgent care can provide a fast and effective first step toward recovery, so you can heal properly and get back to the mountain safely. Come visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Denver Highlands for a professional evaluation. No appointment is necessary– just walk-in today! We provide quality, affordable, and convenient care for patients of all ages. If you have any additional questions about the injuries we treat, please call our medical office directly at (303) 477-6000.