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Injury Rates for the various Alpine Sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and skiboarding, are relatively low at approximately 2.3 per 1000 skier days, and have remained relatively steady over the past x winter seasons. Injury epidemiology studies around the world continue to converge in terms of injury rates and injury reporting methodologies. Case control studies taking into account the population at risk are recommended to compare injury rates and patterns around the world. Knee injuries in skiing, wrist injuries in snowboarding, and lower leg fractures in skiboarding are the most common injuries. Injury rates in Alpine sports are significantly affected by gender, age, and experience. Beginner participants and younger participants (eg. children and youth) are at the highest risk for injury. The rate of injury in snowboarding is approximately twice that for other Alpine Sports.

Wrist Protection in Alpine Sports, particularly snowboarding, has the potential to reduce the risk of wrist fractures. Currently, utilization of wrist protectors is low (10%-35%). Design of wrist protectors should consider prevention of extreme movements of wrist in hyperextension, adduction and pronation, and reduction of impact energy. There is no evidence that wrist protectors simply transfer energy to the forearm, but some currently available wrist protectors may actually increase the complexity and severity of fractures. Development of harmonized worldwide standards for wrist protection devices is recommended.

Head Protection in Alpine Sports has seen a dramatic increase in usage since 2000, approaching 20-40%. Current helmets may play an important role in reducing the incidence and severity of both serious and minor head injuries, but may not prevent fatalities at high speeds and with obstacles seen commonly in Alpine Sports. Head impact and head injury severity is a function of sport, speed, snow conditions, and impact location. Standards for Alpine Sports recreational helmets exist but are not yet harmonized worldwide.

Ski Binding Settings and Maintenance of Ski Boot-Binding Systems remain a complex challenge after 30 years. Studies worldwide continue to indicate a significant lack of compliance with equipment maintenance and accuracy of binding settings according to standards. Children’s equipment is particularly suspect with regard to the incidence of lower leg fx. Worldwide, reduction in some release values, particularly for women, have been introduced via standards specifications with the goal of reducing certain types of injuries, but these changes are not likely to reduce the incidence and severity of isolated injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. Aggressive campaigns to increase binding maintenance and to test and evaluate retail and rental skiboot-binding systems according to standards are recommended worldwide.

Alpine Sports Injury Research is encouraged to identify trends in injury patterns, and to demonstrate how changes in equipment, participation, and mountain utilization affect Alpine Sports injury.

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Home About ISSS Congresses Publications Members Become a member Links Contact Member Forums	ISSS Summary Statement – Following conference 2005 Arai Resort, Japan Injury Rates for the various Alpine Sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and skiboarding, are relatively low at approximately 2.3 per 1000 skier days, and have remained relatively steady over the past x winter seasons. Injury epidemiology studies around the world continue to converge in terms of injury rates and injury reporting methodologies. Case control studies taking into account the population at risk are recommended to compare injury rates and patterns around the world. Knee injuries in skiing, wrist injuries in snowboarding, and lower leg fractures in skiboarding are the most common injuries. Injury rates in Alpine sports are significantly affected by gender, age, and experience. Beginner participants and younger participants (eg. children and youth) are at the highest risk for injury. The rate of injury in snowboarding is approximately twice that for other Alpine Sports. Wrist Protection in Alpine Sports, particularly snowboarding, has the potential to reduce the risk of wrist fractures. Currently, utilization of wrist protectors is low (10%-35%). Design of wrist protectors should consider prevention of extreme movements of wrist in hyperextension, adduction and pronation, and reduction of impact energy. There is no evidence that wrist protectors simply transfer energy to the forearm, but some currently available wrist protectors may actually increase the complexity and severity of fractures. Development of harmonized worldwide standards for wrist protection devices is recommended. Head Protection in Alpine Sports has seen a dramatic increase in usage since 2000, approaching 20-40%. Current helmets may play an important role in reducing the incidence and severity of both serious and minor head injuries, but may not prevent fatalities at high speeds and with obstacles seen commonly in Alpine Sports. Head impact and head injury severity is a function of sport, speed, snow conditions, and impact location. Standards for Alpine Sports recreational helmets exist but are not yet harmonized worldwide. Ski Binding Settings and Maintenance of Ski Boot-Binding Systems remain a complex challenge after 30 years. Studies worldwide continue to indicate a significant lack of compliance with equipment maintenance and accuracy of binding settings according to standards. Children’s equipment is particularly suspect with regard to the incidence of lower leg fx. Worldwide, reduction in some release values, particularly for women, have been introduced via standards specifications with the goal of reducing certain types of injuries, but these changes are not likely to reduce the incidence and severity of isolated injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. Aggressive campaigns to increase binding maintenance and to test and evaluate retail and rental skiboot-binding systems according to standards are recommended worldwide. Alpine Sports Injury Research is encouraged to identify trends in injury patterns, and to demonstrate how changes in equipment, participation, and mountain utilization affect Alpine Sports injury. Copyright © 2010 – All rights reserved.

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