Abstract
BackgroundTo increase safety in elite alpine ski racing Injury Surveillance Systems were implemented and preventive measures introduced. However, studies analysing the change in athletes’ injury risk by controlling for their exposure are still scarce.ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe and analyse the risk of in-competition severe injury events (SIEcomp) in elite alpine ski racing.MethodsData recorded in the Austrian Ski Federation’s Injury Surveillance System were used to analyse the SIEcomp incidence. Information on athletes’ competition exposure was obtained from the official website of the International Ski Federation. In 23 seasons, 2333 skier seasons were recorded for the Austrian Ski Team. Within a total of 114,531 runs 169 SIEcomp occurred. Generalised Estimating Equation for Poisson Regressions were applied.ResultsThe SIEcomp incidence per 1000 runs was 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.73] for elite alpine ski racers and 2.21 (95% CI 1.79–2.75) for the subgroup of World Cup racers. A significant sex difference was detected for the subgroup of junior racers with a higher risk for female athletes [risk ratio (RR): 2.97, 95% CI 1.46–6.05]. Between the seasons of 1997 and 2020, the seasonal SIEcomp incidence increased by a factor of 2.67 for elite alpine ski racers and 3.53 for World Cup racers. Downhill (2.75, 95% CI 2.18–3.47) had the highest SIEcomp incidence, followed by super-G (1.94, 95% CI 1.30–2.88), giant slalom (1.40, 95% CI 1.06–1.85), and slalom (0.64, 95% CI 0.43–0.96).ConclusionAlthough many preventive measures have been implemented in elite alpine ski racing, the risk of SIEcomp has increased over the last two decades.
Highlights
Problem Statement and Research Questions Over the past 20 years, many preventive measures such as competition equipment regulations or safety gate panels have been introduced to reduce the injury risk in alpine ski racing
Conclusion: many preventive measures have been implemented in elite alpine ski racing, the risk of SIEcomp has increased over the last two decades
The average seasonal growth of the SIEcomp incidence per 1000 runs was 0.06 for all Austrian Ski Team racers and 0.12 for Team World Cup (WC). This means that the seasonal SIEcomp incidence increased by a factor of 2.67 for all Austrian Ski Team racers and by a factor of 3.53 for Team World Cup (Team WC) between the seasons 1997 and 2020
Summary
Problem Statement and Research Questions Over the past 20 years, many preventive measures such as competition equipment regulations or safety gate panels have been introduced to reduce the injury risk in alpine ski racing. To monitor ski racing-related injury trends, compare the discipline-specific injury incidence, and determine potential risk factors, the Austrian Ski Federation as well as the International Ski Federation (FIS) implemented Injury Surveillance Systems (ISSs). In this context, one of the major challenges is the definition of injuries, especially injury severity, which has varied across available ISSs data and reported results. Studies analysing the change in athletes’ injury risk by controlling for their exposure are still scarce
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