Ski-Alpine: How long Hirscher should really be out of action

Typically, the duration of an ankle fracture is up to six months – however, for hobby athletes.Professional athletes are usually ready for action again after three or four months, according to research by the APA – Austria Presse Agentur.If the cure is uncomplicated, the February Olympic Games in South Korea should not be endangered for Marcel Hirscher.

If the course is favourable, the Salzburg rider should be able to cope with the full load in November or December and could start racing again.However, without knowledge of the exact circumstances of the violation, information on this subject is subject to great uncertainty.According to ÖSV data, this is a stable fracture and therefore no surgery is necessary.After the plaster removal, Hirscher is in any case awaiting a phase of intensive training.

The external ankle fracture is widespread.Benno Zifko, a specialist in sports medicine, said that fractures of this kind, which are usually caused by the twisting of the foot, account for about a quarter of all sports injuries.For skiers, the ankle area is well protected during races and training by the ski boot itself, but external ankle fractures occur again and again.

Maria Holaus was hit particularly badly in 2010: The ÖSV runner sustained an injury during the running-in for the World Cup downhill run in Haus im Ennstal.After a long period of convalescence, the Tyrolean decided to end her career in July of the same year.However, unlike Hirscher, the speed specialist had not suffered a stable fracture, and the syndesmosis, the ligament between the shin and fibula, was also affected.