Relationship between Lower Extremity Fitness Levels and Injury Risk among Recreational Alpine Skiers: A Prospective Cohort Study

Zi Wang, Yihui Cai, Junqi Wu, Siyuan Xie () and Wei Jiao ()
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Zi Wang: School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Yihui Cai: School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Junqi Wu: School of Strength and Conditioning Training, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Siyuan Xie: School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
Wei Jiao: School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Although the importance of physical fitness for injury prevention is recognized in sports medicine and rehabilitation, few studies have investigated this factor among recreational alpine skiers. Objective: To determine the effect of lower extremity fitness on the risk and severity of injury among recreational alpine skiers. Method: This prospective cohort study involved 117 recreational skiers at two alpine resorts during the 2021–2022 winter season. Anthropometric characteristics, skiing skills, and lower extremity agility (hexagon test), balance (Y-Balance Test), and endurance (60-s squat test) were assessed before the winter season. All of the participants were divided into an injured group and an uninjured group, based on whether an injury was recorded throughout the season. Results: In binary logistic regression, the hexagon test duration and composite Y-Balance Test score were significant injury risk factors ( p < 0.05). Ordinal polytomous logistic regression revealed no significant factors for injury severity ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Recreational alpine skiers with inferior lower extremity agility or balance may have a higher injury risk and this must be considered when assessing individual risk. In the context of injury prevention, regular neuromuscular training and testing, including agility and balance aspects should be recommended to skiers.

Keywords: snow sport; physical fitness; injury prevention; risk assessment; logistic regression analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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