Skier Injury Trends—1972 to 1994

Abstract

Between December 1972 and April 1994 the authors evaluated prospectively 8023 injuries reported to the injury clinic operated in the base lodge of a moderate size northern Vermont ski area. During that time, approximately 2 480 000 skier-visits occurred at the area. This study is the most recent update of reports documenting long-term trends that have been presented at approximately four-year intervals. Although the overall injury rate decreased by 44% during the 22-year study, most of this decline occurred during the first ten years. Fractures and sprains to the lower leg, however, continued the improvement noted in previous reports with an 87% reduction. Although the incidence of knee ligament injuries did not change significantly, severe knee sprains, usually involving the anterior cruciate ligament, increased very significantly (228%), continuing a trend that began in the late 1970s. In general, the incidence of upper body injuries did not change although upper body lacerations and thumb ulnar collateral ligament sprains improved by 65 and 61%, respectively, while clavicular and trunk fractures, though rare, increased in incidence 234 and 202%, respectively.

The effect of heads-up-display (HUD) goggles on skiing and snowboarding speeds

“…In 2015, for example, Vail Resorts introduced the ability to view up-to-the-minute lift-line wait times via their dedicated resort smartphone application (Vail Resorts, 2015). Skiing is an inherently risky activity, with an overall injury rate of approximately 2.5 injuries per thousand skier visits (Johnson, Ettlinger, & Shealy, 1997). While higher injury rates have been associated with male gender (Wasden, McIntosh, Keith, & McCowan, 2009), younger age (Kim, Endres, Johnson, Ettlinger, & Shealy, 2012), lower ability (Goulet, Hagel, Hamel, & Légaré, 2010), ill-adjusted equipment (Johnson, Ettlinger, & Shealy, 2009) and unanticipated collisions with trees, rocks, or other skiers (Zuckerman, 2007), excessive speed is the dominant cause of injury (Macnab, Cadman, & Greenlaw, 1998).…”

“…The injury rate in alpine skiing is approximately 2.5 injuries per thousand skier visits, and while trends indicate that some injuries such as lower leg injuries, lacerations, and thumb injuries are in decline, serious knee injuries and clavicle fractures continue to increase (Johnson et al, 1997). Among snowboarders specifically, research finds that wrist injuries, shoulder soft tissue injuries, ankle injuries, concussions, and clavicle fractures are common, while skiers tend to sustain more anterior cruciate ligament sprains, medial collateral ligament sprains of the knee, lateral collateral ligament sprains of the knee, lower extremity contusions, and tibia fractures (Kim et al, 2012).…”

Injuries about the shoulder in skiing and snowboarding

“…When looking at various studies from 1962 to 2008, some conclusions can be drawn about the overall trends of skiing injuries. Over the last 50 years, the number of reported injuries has decreased from 7.6 injuries per 1000 skier days in the 1950s to three injuries per 1000 skier days in the late 1990s and, most recently, 1.9 injuries per 1000 skier days in 2008 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. Despite the steady fall in overall skiing injuries, the prevalence of upper-extremity injuries over the past 20 years continues to increase.…”

Myths Concerning Alpine Skiing Injuries

“…Snow sport injuries have been studied at a northern Vermont ski area in an ongoing case-control study for 37 years beginning in the winter of 1972–1973. From the early 1970s through the late 1980s, an 83% decrease in the incidence of sprains and fractures below the knee has been observed 17,28. Since the 1980s, there has been no change in the risk of a lower leg injury, although a subgroup of twist-related injuries (spiral tibial fractures and ankle fractures and sprains) has shown a modest improvement beginning in the late 1990s.…”