ALPINE SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING INJURIES

AOSSM SPORTS TIPS

The popularity of skiing has increased from conditioning. One study looking ment sprains have not decreased and dramatically in the past century. Since at female ski racers found that their have actually increased over the last its inception in the 1960s, snowboarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) 20 to 30 years. Bindings are continuing has become increasingly popular as injury rate was six times that of their to improve every year. If you have only well. In fact, almost 40 percent of all male counterparts. one piece of equipment that is new, it should be your ski binding. “sliding snow” sports participants today Physical conditioning may have a sig - are snowboarders. nificant impact on injury rates — that To improve the safety of your skiing, Skiing and snowboarding are both is, the better shape a skier is in, the your bindings should be no more than wonderful sports. As with most any less frequent the injuries. Most studies 3 to 4 years old. The release properties physical activity, however, there is an focus on destination ski resorts, where should be tested each year in a certi - element of risk. By following some basic most skiers are vacationers. Injuries fied shop. You can also perform a guidelines and learning more about the are most likely to occur on: self-release test each day of skiing by kicking out of your bindings. It is also risks, it is possible to decrease those Ⅲ the first day of ski week; risks. Remembering the following very important to make sure that you information can minimize your risks Ⅲ in the early morning when the have no dirt or grit in your binding or and allow more fun on the slopes. skier is not warmed up; in the boot/binding interface. Ⅲ in the late morning and late in the Boots are less important in the preven - HOW DO SKIERS GET HURT? day when fatigue sets in; and tion of injuries, though you should be mindful of their proper fit and the Ⅲ at the end of the week when the Many variables affect injury rates in amount of external wear on your boots. skiers, most commonly ability, age, cumulative effects of the vacation make the skier tired. When buying boots, be sure to get a gender, physical conditioning and proper fit from a knowledgeable sales - snow conditions. Beginners have three Snow conditions affect injury patterns, person. Check that the toe and heel times the injury rate of experts, but as well. Hard pack snow generally of your boots have little external wear their injuries are less severe. Experts yields high-speed and impact injuries. and are clean. This will allow proper have less frequent but more severe Powder and heavy snow is associated release from the binding. injuries (head injuries, fractures and with more torsional or twisting injuries. high grade ligament sprains). This is Quick changes in snow conditions, Proper ski length may also affect injury probably due to their higher speed on such as hitting the line between rate. Shorter skis are easier to turn and the ski slope. Intermediate skiers fall groomed and ungroomed snow, may control but may be less stable at high somewhere in-between. cause a fall that leads to an injury. speeds. Newer skis have more sidecut (the curve on the sides of your ski). Another key factor is age. The highest This helps skiers of all ability levels injury rate is among 11 to 13 year olds. EQUIPMENT-RELATED carve turns more easily. Some research Their ability is intermediate, but their INJURIES suggests that this feature may cause judgment is not as good as adults’. more twisting injuries to the knee. Skis have a rigid coupling with the foot Injures in teenagers (13 to 20 year olds) Regardless, it is important to keep your that increases the forces to the leg and are slightly less frequent, but more ski edges in good condition to allow knee. These forces are often greater severe. Many have the skill levels of for proper carving of a turn and to than our bodies can absorb. This boot- adults with immature judgment. Finally, control your speed, especially on hard binding interface is the most common children younger than 12 years old pack or icy conditions. cause of equipment-related injury. The have twice the injury rate of adults, modern bindings, which release in a Ski poles can influence thumb and but fewer than that of adolescents. multidirectional pattern, have decreased hand injuries. When a skier falls on an Females have twice the injury rate the incidence of fractures by more than outstretched hand that is holding a ski of males, which is thought to stem 80 percent. Unfortunately, knee liga - pole, the pole can cause a tear of the

ALPINE SKIING ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. SNOWBOARDING Sports Tips are brought to you by the American This is one of the most common injuries Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. They INJURY TRENDS provide general information only and are not in skiing. The best way to prevent this a substitute for your own good judgement or injury is to drop your pole when you Snowboarding has a slightly higher consultation with a physician. To order multiple fall. It is important to not wear your ski potential for upper extremity injuries, copies of this fact sheet or learn more about pole straps. This allows the pole to fall but it may be safer on the knees. There other orthopaedic sports medicine topics, please visit www.sportsmed.org. away when you drop it. In deep powder is an increased rate of foot and ankle snow this may not be as important. injuries associated with snowboarding. The lead foot has twice the number of Ski clothing, goggles, and headgear injuries than the back foot. One study are important as well. It is important showed that the hybrid or “mid-stiff - to dress in layers to allow for adjust - ness” boots were the safest style of Copyright © 2008. American Orthopaedic ment to changing weather conditions. Society for Sports Medicine. All rights reserved. boots. There may be more high-energy Goggles and sunglasses will protect Multiple copy reproduction prohibited. injuries such as femur fractures, high- your eyes from UV radiation, wind, speed injuries and injuries caused by snow and other hazards you may find getting “big air.” on the slope. One important trend is the use of helmets on the ski mountain, which is analogous to biking helmets. GENERAL INJURY After all, most of us would not go PREVENTION biking without a helmet, particularly at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour. Ⅲ Prepare for the season and Head injuries are the most common get in shape. cause of death from skiing collisions. Many of these may be prevented by Ⅲ Get your equipment checked wearing a helmet. at a certified shop. Ⅲ Self-release your bindings ACL INJURIES each day you ski. One of the most common injuries in Ⅲ Warm up and stretch skiing is the ACL tear. Some experts say before skiing. that incidence of this injury has tripled Ⅲ Don’t ski while intoxicated. over the last 20 years. Vermont Safety Research has instituted a program to Ⅲ Wear a helmet. prevent ACL injuries in ski professionals. Their techniques, which have been Expert Consultant: shown to significantly reduce the John D. Campbell, MD ACL injury rate, are available from http://www.vermontskisafety.com/.