Page 7 - SMU Winter 2020

S kiing and snowboarding are popular, yet dangerous recreational

winter sports. The large number of participants come with a wide
range of age and skill levels in snow skiing and snowboarding.

Hence both of these winter sports can be associated with significant
orthopaedic injuries. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)

estimates that an average of 44.7 serious injuries (paralysis, serious
head injury, or other serious injury) occur among skiers and snowboarders

each year. The NSAA has found that injury rates have declined for both skiing
and snowboarding based upon data from 2001 to 2010, but injuries still occur.

Injuries Table 1. Anatomic regions of injury in skiers and snowboarders

Injuries are determined by skill level Skiers Snowboarders 26%
and type of winter sport. Beginners
are more likely to sustain injuries than
advanced level participants. For example
the mechanism of injury for a beginner
snowboarder is more likely to be low- 16% 16%
impact related to a ground level fall,
whereas for an advanced snowboarder the 12%
injury is high-impact most often related 11% 10%
to jumps. Table 1 contrasts the injuries 8%
1,3
sustained while skiing with those injuries
sustained while snowboarding. 3,1,7,8 4% 4% 5%
2% 2%
Slope Safety
The NSAA Skiing and Snowboarding Safety Head Neck Shoulder Arm Wrist Hand
Fact Sheet, updated in 2012, reviewed
several campaigns to improve on slope
28%
safety. These included safety programs that
establish family ski areas and encourage
instructional lessons for beginners.
The NSAA and National Ski Patrol
(NSP) emphasize knowing your limits.
It is important to learn proper ski and
snowboard technique to maintain control.

Slope Preparation 10%
9%
Although alpine skiing and snowboarding
are vacation adventures, one must 6% 6% 5% 6%
remember that these are demanding 3% 4% 4% 3%
winter sports. Most winter participants 2%
have not used the skiing and snowboarding
Thorax/
muscles for several months and attempting Abdomen Back Thigh Knee Lower Leg Ankle

Winter 2020, Issue 1 | sportsmed.org 5 