Injuries in skiing and snowboarding: Epidemiology and risk factors as a basis for prevention measures

Abstract

tude, increased physical activity, climatic factors, the use of specifi c equipment and resources for vertical transport, the need for a certain level of motor abilities , skills and experience, increased movement speed on non-standard surfaces surrounded by other skiers create conditions for a large number of risks which can lead to injuries. Despite the eff orts of researchers to further defi ne the role of risk factors to injuries, it proved to be a complex problem. Some of the mentioned risk factors were not possible or were very dif-fi cult to estimate. Besides the statistical data on the type and number of injuries, it was diffi cult to make a deeper and more objective analysis because the data on injury factors are usually not known or precisely defi ned (skiing knowledge of the injured, conditions Abstract Th is paper deals with the subject of injury in alpine skiing and snowboarding and the aim was to defi ne the characteristics of injuries and the risk factors as the basis for establishing preventive measures. Th e types of injuries and risk factors were analyzed by examining previous papers. During the last thirty years, the number of injuries has generally decreased by 50-70%. Th e changes were recorded in the types of injuries, and the number of certain injuries increased. It was found that there was a mutual diff erence in the number and structure of the injuries of skiers and snowboarders. Injuries can be classifi ed topologically and according to risk factors. Th e risk factors may be manifold: the characteristics of the equipment, the characteristics of the trail and snow surface, protective equipment, age, gender, physical fi tness, risky behaviours, time of day, skiing discipline, climate factors, the presence of other skiers and others. By the analysis of these factors it was concluded that there were three entities in the implementation of security measures: the state that stipulates laws (relevant ministries), owners or organizers who provide services in skiing (ski centres, ski services, ski schools, clubs) and skiers and snowboarders themselves.