Recreational Snow-Sports Injury Risk Factors and Countermeasures: A Meta-Analysis Review and Haddon Matrix Evaluation

Abstract

Snow sports injuries risk factors and countermeasures 2 listed above qualify for authorship based on making one or more of the substantial contributions to the intellectual content of the manuscript.The opinions expressed are those solely of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand. Abstract Background:Snow sports (alpine skiing/snowboarding) would benefit from easily implemented and cost effective injury prevention countermeasures that are effective at reducing injury rate and severity. Objective:For snow sports, to identify risk factors and to quantify evidence for effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures. Methods:Searches of electronic literature databases to February 2014 identified 98 journal articles focused on snow sports that met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Pooled odds ratios with 90% confidence interval and inferences (OR; 90%CI, % likelihood benefit/harm) were calculated using data from 55 studies using a spread sheet for combining independent groups with a weighting factor based on quality rating scores for effects. Results:More experienced skiers and snowboarders are more likely to sustain an injury as the result of jumps, while beginners sustain injuries primarily as a result of falls. Key risk factors that countermeasure interventions should focus on include beginner skiers (OR 2.72; 90%CI 2.15-3.44, 99% most likely harmful), beginner snowboarders (OR 2.66; 90%CI 2.08-3.40, 99% harmful), skiers/snowboarders who rent snow equipment (OR 2.58; 90%CI 1.98-3.37, 99% harmful) and poor visibility due to inclement weather (OR 2.69; 90%CI 1.43-5.07, 97% harmful). Effective countermeasures include helmets for skiers/snowboarders to prevent head injuries (OR 0.58; 90%CI 0.51-0.66, 99% most likely beneficial), and wrist guards for snowboarders to prevent wrist injuries (OR 0.33; 90%CI 0.23-0.47, 99% beneficial). Discussion:Snow sports injuries risk factors and countermeasures 3 The review identified key risk factors for snow sport injuries and evaluated the evidence for the effectiveness of existing injury prevention countermeasures in recreational (general public use of slopes, not racing) snow sports using a Haddon's matrix conceptual framework for injury causation (host/snow sport participant, agent/mechanism and environment/community). Conclusion:Best evidence for effectiveness of injury prevention countermeasures in recreational snow sports was for the use of helmets and wrist guards and to address low visibility issues via weather reports and signage.

Training Load and Fatigue Marker Associations with Injury and Illness: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

“…As noted in previous systematic reviews [31], the usual method of quality evaluation comprises tools such as the Delphi [32] or PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) [33] scales whose criteria are often not relevant for specific review study types, including this current review article. For example, similar to Hume et al [31], 5 of the 11 PEDro scale criteria were not included by any study in this review, including concealed allocation, subject blinding, therapist blinding, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis.…”

“…For example, similar to Hume et al [31], 5 of the 11 PEDro scale criteria were not included by any study in this review, including concealed allocation, subject blinding, therapist blinding, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. Therefore, to reduce the risk of bias, and given the unsuitability of scales such as Delphi and PEDro to assess the literature in this review, two authors independently evaluated each included article using a 9-item custom methodological quality assessment scale with scores ranging from 0 to 2 (total score out of 18).…”

Einflussfaktoren auf das sicherheitsrelevante Wissen auf der Skipiste

“…In Übereinstimmung mit der Studie von Hildebrant et al [5] zeigten Anfänger die geringste Häufigkeit an richtigen Antworten. Dies ist insofern relevant, da Ski-und Snowboardanfänger ein erhöhtes Verletzungsrisiko aufweisen [6]. Entsprechend sollte die Vermittlung von sicherheitsrelevantem Wissen beispielsweise in Skikursen von Skischulen aber auch durch Informationskampagnen von Skiliftbetreibern besonders die Gruppe der Anfänger ansprechen.…”

What are the risk factors for injuries and injury prevention strategies for skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks and half-pipes? A systematic review

“…As concluded in the systematic review of Hume et al ,19 using Haddon’s prevention concepts, the design of TPs should consider prevention of injuries. Research related to playground and skatepark injuries has demonstrated an association between the quality of the physical environment and the risk of injury,31–34 and this may also be true for TPs.…”