title: [Factors Associated with the Use of Protective Gear among Adults during Recreational Sledging].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recreational sledging (tobogganing) is a very popular winter sport in the Alps. Therefore, injury prevention through the usage of protective gear seems important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with the use of protective gear among adults during recreational sledging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult recreational sledgers were interviewed during the winter seasons 2012/13 and 2013/14 at six sledging tracks in Austria on demographics, skill level, sledging frequency, risk taking behaviour, sitting alone or with another person on the sledge, previous sledging-related injuries, and use of protective gear, respectively. Interviews were conducted on all days of the week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1968 adult sledgers (49.4 % females) with a mean age of 37.1 ± 14.4 years participated in this study. A (ski) helmet, sun or snow goggles, a back protector, and wrist guards were used by 42.3 %, 71.0 %, 5.9 %, 2.6 % of sledgers, respectively. Helmet use was significantly higher with increasing age and increasing skill level as well as when sitting alone compared to sitting together with another person. Females, Austrians, persons sitting alone on the sledge, a higher frequency of sledging and a higher skill level were significantly associated with an increasing use of goggles. A back protector was significantly more often worn by younger people, more risky sledgers, and persons with a previous sledging-related injury. Wrist guards were significantly more often used by persons with a previous sledging-related injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During recreational sledging, the factors age, sex, nationality, skill level, sitting alone compared to sitting together with another person on the sledge, sledging frequency, and injury experience were associated with the frequencies of usage of different types of protective gear. These factors should be considered when implementing preventive measures for recreational sledging.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruedl
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pocecco
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Unfallchirurgie Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raas
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Unfallchirurgie Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blauth
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Sportorthopädie am Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sportwissenschaft Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*