A Comparison of ACL Injury Risk, Ski Geometry and Standing Height Parameters between Skiers with Rented and with Owned Skis

Gerhard Ruedl (), Markus Posch, Katja Tecklenburg, Alois Schranz, Martin Faulhaber, Elena Pocecco and Martin Burtscher
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Gerhard Ruedl: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Markus Posch: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Katja Tecklenburg: Medalp Sportclinic, A-6460 Imst, Austria
Alois Schranz: Medalp Sportclinic, A-6460 Imst, Austria
Martin Faulhaber: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Elena Pocecco: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Martin Burtscher: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-9

Abstract: Aim: to evaluate if ACL injuries are associated with recreational skiers using rented skis and whether individual factors, ski geometry parameters and standing heights differ between skiers who rented or owned skis. A retrospective questionnaire-based, case–control study of ACL-injured and uninjured recreational skiers was conducted during six winter seasons. Age, sex, body height, body weight, nationality, ownership of skis, skill level, risk-taking behavior, ski length, side-cut radius, widths of the tip, waist, and tail, and the standing heights at the front and rear components of the ski binding were assessed. Additionally, ratios between ski widths and a standing height ratio were calculated. Altogether, 1780 skiers (48.9% females) with a mean age of 39.2 ± 13.0 years participated, of whom 22.0% sustained an ACL injury and 32.3% rented skis. ACL injury risk was significantly associated with rented skis (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.5–4.0). Compared to skiers using own skis, participants who rented skis were more likely female, smaller and lighter, tourists, less skilled and more cautious. In comparison to owned skis, rented skis showed significantly lower mean values in ski length, side-cut radius, ski widths, and for the three ski widths ratios. Additionally, standing heights were significantly lower while standing height ratio was higher for rented skis. Beside individual factors, equipment-related factors should be considered when renting skis in order to reduce ACL injury risk.

Keywords: alpine skiing; ACL injury; rented skis; risk factors; standing height; ski widths; ski geometry (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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