SEDL / STP / STP1289-EB / STP18283S

Previous Skiing Injuries in Alpine Olympic Racers

Ekeland, A
Professor of orthopaedic surgerychief medical officer, Ullevaal Hospital, University of OsloKvitfjell downhill and Suger G arena, Olympic Winter Games, Oslo,

Nordsletten, L
Orthopaedic residentmedical officer, Martina Hansens HospitalKvitfjell downhill and Super G arena, Olympic Winter Games, Sandvika,

Lystad, H
Medical officer of healthchief medical officer, Hemsedal Health CentreHafjell slalom and giant slalom arena, Olympic Winter Games, Hemsedal,

Lereim, I
Professor of accident surgerychief medical officer, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim,

Pages: 7    Published: Jan 1997

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Abstract

Previous serious skiing injuries were recorded among the participants in the alpine diciplines of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

Fifty-four racers answered the questionnaire (reply percentage of 21%). Seventy-two percent of the racers had suffered one or more serious skiing injuries previously. The knee accounted for 43% of the injuries, followed by the lower leg (10%) and the head (8%). Forty-two percent of the women and 10% of the men (p < 0.01) had suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Thirty-six percent of the racers had been injured in downhill, and 21% in each of the three other alpine disciplines. Sixty-two percent reported to be recovered completely from their injuries.

In conclusion, about three fourths of Olympic racers have suffered a previous skiing injury. Female racers were more prone to ACL ruptures than male racers.