Telemark skiing injuries: an 11-year study.
This study evaluated telemark injuries in a Swedish ski area in terms of injury ratio, location, and causes over time. During the seasons of 1989-2000 all injured telemark skiers ( n=94) who attended the medical center in Tärnaby, Sweden, within 48 h after the accident were registered and asked to fill in an injury form. A control group of noninjured telemark skiers were interviewed in the season of 1999-2000. The most common cause of injury was fall (70%) and the injury ratio was 1.2. There was a higher proportion of beginners in the injured population, and they had a fall/run ratio of 0.7, compared with 0.3 for average and advanced skiers. Ankle/foot injuries were most common (28% of injuries) followed by knee (20%) and head/neck (17%). The ankle/foot injuries decreased from 35% to 22% in the seasons 1989-1995 to 1995-2000. Beginners had more ankle/foot injuries than skilled participants. The severity of ankle/foot injuries classified as the Abbreviated Injury Scale group 2 or higher decreased from 33% to 21% during the study period. Twenty-seven percent used plastic and 73% leather boots. We found no association between boot material and ankle/foot injuries. The proportion of high boots with two or more buckles was 51%. High boots appeared to be protective against ankle/foot injuries. The proportion of high boots increased from 24% to 67% during the study period. Thus ankle/foot injuries were the most common injury location, but have decreased over time. The severity of these injuries has also decreased. A possible explanation could be the increased use of high boots.
Made
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Tärnaby Health Center, Tärnaby, Sweden.
Borg
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H
Thelander
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D
Elmqvist
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LG
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D003288:Contusions / Q000453:epidemiology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology