Alpine Skiing

Injury rates and patterns of alpine skiers have been studied at great length since the early 1940’s. The overall incidences involving ski injuries have steadily decreased from 5 to 8 injuries per 1000 skier days before the 1970’s to between 2 and 3 injuries per 1000 skier days in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s (Johnson, Ettlinger & Shealy, 1997). Injuries that most commonly occurred during the 1940’s and 1950’s to the lower extremities such as ankle sprains (28%), ankle fractures (11%) and spiral tibial fractures (2.8%) have declined by 8

. . .
Age, experience, conditioning and ski conditions all play a significant role. Also, it will not offset the danger to the inexperienced skier attempting conditions beyond their capability. : the binding release and support system) that was developed during the early 1980’s. The factor that equipment will have little impact on is who is being injured.

At the same time, there are certain types of skiing injuries that have not reported a reduction but rather an increase.

Several studies have been conducted to compare the number of upper body versus lower body extremity injuries. One study however, compiled over 11 seasons, showed that the ratio of upper extremity to lower extremity injury appears to be increasing in alpine skiing and that certain shoulder injuries can be accompanied by significant morbidity to overall upper extremity function (Kocher & Feagin Jr. This could be attributed to the concentration on improving equipment to decrease the incidence of lower extremity injury. While the advances in equipment design have decreased Grade I and II knee sprains involving the medial collateral ligament (MCL) by 64%, Grade III knee sprains that usually involve the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) have vastly increased by 228% during the same period (Natri et al. The improvement in the technology has resulted in the incidence of ankle injuries and tibia fractures being reduced and being maintained at that level (Natri et al. Since the early 1980’s, severe Grade III knee sprains have increased at an alarming rate and this trend continues today (Johnson & Pope, 1991). Despite many attempts to show a connection between the modern ski bindings and knee injuries, there has not been any significant evidence to support a correlation between knee sprains and the binding release function (Natri et al. Because of better protection of the ankles and lower legs, injuries are now being transferred to the next most vulnerable area, which are the knees (Davidson & Laliotis, 1996).

Common topics in this essay:
Davidson Laliotis, Feagin Jr, Ettlinger Shealy, Johnson Shealy, Grade III, , Johnson Pope, Grade II, knee sprains, et al, alpine skiing, natri et al, natri et, al 1999, et al 1999, davidson laliotis 1996, extremity injuries, lower extremity, upper extremity, laliotis 1996, davidson laliotis, injuries alpine skiing, lower extremity injury,

Approximate Word count = 830
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here