Downhill skiing injuries: associated factors and prevention strategies

Abstract

Downhill skiing is a unique sport with respect to its technique and equipment. A variety of injuries have been reported, which include tears of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments of the knee, tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpo-phalangeal joint of the thumb, ankle sprain, fracture of the lower leg, soft tissue injury of the shoulder, tear of the medial meniscus of the knee, muscle strains, and lumbar spine strain. The findings from research into factors associated with injury are often equivocal. The main findings reported include: beginner–intermediate level of skiing ability, between one and four days of skiing, between two and three hours of skiing on the day of injury, fine weather, slow speed of skiing, slopes classified as 'easy', lack of professional instruction, and failure of bindings to release prior to injury. Further research into pre-season training and pre-skiing warm-up is required. General injury prevention recommendations have been made, however, thorough injury prevention strategies are yet to be developed. Recommendations include: equipment modifications, skiing specific pre-season training and pre-skiing warm-up with attention to a wide variety of body areas, professional instruction, and current information regarding risk factors and injury prevention to be made available to appropriate health professionals and the skiing public.

Keywords:

• DOWNHILL SKIING
• INJURIES
• PHYSICAL FITNESS
• PREVENTION
• RISK FACTORS
• WARM-UP