Physical Therapy in Bobsled: My On-Site Experience at the North American Cup

I had the opportunity to work as a physical therapist at Lake Placid, supporting a Taiwanese female bobsled athlete during the North American Cup.

Coming off the Milan Winter Olympics earlier this year, this competition marked the final event of her season—making it an especially meaningful experience for both of us.

Being on-site allowed me to see firsthand the physical demands of bobsled and the unique role physical therapy plays in both performance and injury management.

What Makes Bobsled Physically Demanding?

Bobsled is a high-speed winter sport that places extreme stress on the body. Athletes are required to:

• Sprint while pushing a heavy sled (~165 kg / 364 lbs)
• Quickly transition into the sled
• Maintain stability under high G-forces and vibration
• Control direction while in a constrained position

These demands create very specific injury patterns that are quite different from traditional field or court sports.

Common Injuries in Bobsled

1. Neck Pain & Headaches

During high-speed turns, athletes are exposed to significant G-forces.
While the body is secured in the sled, the head is not.

This often leads to:

• Repetitive strain on the neck
• Overactivity of neck muscles
• Post-run headaches
• Occasional mild concussion symptoms

2. Hamstring & Hip Adductor Strain

At the start, athletes must push a heavy sled on a slightly downhill slope.

This requires both:

• Force production
• Control of forward momentum

When control is insufficient:

• Hamstrings
• Gluteal muscles
• Hip adductors

…can take on excessive load, increasing injury risk.

3. Upper, Mid & Low Back Discomfort

During the run, athletes stay in a slightly reclined position for around 1 minute, with limited support—especially at the lower back.

This means:

• The spine (and even the neck) must work harder to stabilize the body
• Continuous exposure to high speed, G-forces, and vibration

Over time, this may lead to:

• Muscle tightness
• Fatigue
• Generalized back discomfort

4. Biceps & Upper Limb Discomfort

Athletes hold onto handles during the run to maintain direction and control.

This creates:

• Sustained load on the arms
• Increased demand on shoulder and scapular stability

If control is insufficient:

• The biceps may become overloaded
• Leading to tightness or discomfort

The Role of Physical Therapy in Bobsled

Bobsled places high demands on the body—which is where physical therapy plays a key role.

On-site, we can:

• Guide individualized warm-ups before training and competition
• Provide hands-on treatment for joint and soft tissue restrictions
• Apply supportive taping for injury prevention and post-injury support
• Design targeted exercise programs to reduce injury risk and improve performance

The goal is not only to manage symptoms, but to help athletes perform at their highest level while minimizing injury risk.

Reflection

It’s truly an honor to serve as the team physical therapist for my home country at an international competition.

I had also recently worked with a national-level bobsled athlete from another country, which made this experience even more meaningful.

Somehow, I feel like this sport keeps finding its way back to me.