title: Decrease in eccentric quadriceps and hamstring strength in recreational alpine skiers after prolonged skiing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To effectively prevent injury in recreational alpine skiing, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted through exercise and training. Fatigue is a potential risk factor in recreational skiing, but no investigations have evaluated concentric/eccentric quadriceps and hamstring fatigue in recreational skiers. We tested the hypothesis that recreational skiing is associated with more pronounced eccentric as compared with concentric muscle fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four healthy and fit recreational skiers (14 male and 10 female) performed an isokinetic muscle test 1 day before, 1 h after, and 24 h after a 4 h skiing session. The testing protocol consisted of concentric and eccentric quadriceps and hamstring contractions for both legs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eccentric peak hamstring torque (both thighs) and eccentric peak quadriceps torque (left thigh) were reduced in male and female participants (p<0.05). Reduced peak torques were still present 24 h after the skiing session. There were no other significant findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recreational skiing is associated with prolonged (at least 24 h) eccentric quadriceps (left thigh) and hamstring (both thighs) fatigue in men and women. Eccentric quadriceps and hamstring fatigue may be a potential injury risk factor in male and female recreational skiers. This provides some justification for judicious use of additional eccentric training modalities for alpine skiing.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, tirol kliniken and Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall , Austria.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, tirol kliniken and Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall , Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, tirol kliniken and Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall , Austria.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leichtfried
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, tirol kliniken and Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology , Hall , Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schobersberger
keywords: Concentric; Eccentric; Injury; Isokinetics; Skiing