Your Pass Is Ready. Are Your Legs? Ski Prep With Physical Therapy

Around the Flathead Valley, fall comes with a familiar checklist: buy your season pass, pull your gear out of storage, and start wondering when the snow will arrive. Your body deserves a spot on that list, too.

Maybe you want to keep up with your kids on Big Mountain. Maybe you’re looking forward to longer days on the slopes, or wondering whether that knee that bothered you last winter will hold up this year. Maybe you have an old injury you want checked out before the snow flies. Whatever your plans, preparing before opening day gives you time to work toward them.

At Glacier Peaks Physical Therapy in Columbia Falls, our physical therapists provide individualized, one-on-one care to help you prepare for the activities you love, including skiing.

Start Before the Snow Flies

It’s tempting to treat those first few ski days as your conditioning program. But going straight from your usual fall routine to a full day on the mountain can be a big jump in activity & a recipe for injury.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends building exercise gradually rather than rushing seasonal conditioning. Starting early gives you room to increase your training at a manageable pace, with time for recovery between sessions.

You don’t need to cram an entire offseason into a week. A consistent plan that fits your schedule and current abilities is a more useful place to start.

How Physical Therapy Fits Into Ski Prep

A physical therapist can assess your movement patterns and help develop a specialized exercise plan based on your health, current fitness, and goals. For ski preparation, that means talking about what you want your winter to look like and identifying areas worth working on before you click into your bindings.

Your plan may include strengthening exercises, balance work, or improving mobility where movement is limited. Exercise selection and progression should reflect your needs, especially if certain movements are painful or you’re recovering from an injury.

That individual attention matters. Someone returning after knee surgery has different needs from a skier who feels good but wants to improve conditioning. Your PT can help you understand where to begin and how to progress, rather than leaving you to guess which online workout is right for you.

Address the Knee You’re Hoping Will “Hold Up”

If you’re already negotiating with an old injury about this winter, it’s worth having that conversation with a physical therapist.

Pain, swelling, or a feeling that a joint might give way deserves an assessment. PT can help address symptoms and guide rehabilitation. Returning to skiing after surgery also requires following the timeline and clearance from your treating team.

The goal is to understand what’s limiting you and develop a plan around it. Getting through daily activities is an important milestone, but your skiing goals should be part of the conversation, too. And our Physical Therapists here at Glacier Peaks aren't just PTs, they're avid athletes & outdoor enthusiasts too, so they understand the itch to get back on the snow, and can help you do it safely!

Preparation Continues on the Mountain

No workout or PT program can guarantee an injury-free season. Conditioning is one part of reducing risk, alongside your equipment, technique, and decisions on the slopes.

AAOS recommends warming up before skiing, starting with easier runs, and stopping when you’re tired or in pain. It also recommends properly adjusted equipment and choosing terrain that matches your ability. So give yourself permission to ease into the season. You don’t have to ski every run you loved last March on your first day back.

Make a Plan for Your Winter

For everything from relaxed family ski days to intense backcountry days, we’d love to hear what you’re working toward & be a part of helping you get there.

Contact Glacier Peaks Physical Therapy in Columbia Falls to schedule an appointment and talk with a physical therapist about preparing for ski season. Let’s give your body a place on that fall checklist.

September 30 reminder: Today is the last day to purchase a Whitefish Mountain Resort winter season pass at preseason pricing. Prices increase after September 30. View season passes.