This work done by 72 French doctors in the “Médecins de Montagne” skiing safety network studies the evolution of the rate of ACL ruptures since 1992. The study was done on 232 571 injuries including 21 303 ACL ruptures. Alpine skiing ACL ruptures, which have been increasing since 1992, represent 12.5% of accidents (3125 MDBI). A control group is analyzed each season through interviews at the bottom of the slopes in parking lots and random evaluations. We have ascertained that ACL ruptures represent 9.2% of total injuries in men, in comparison with 20% in women, over 24 years old. The case-control study, women versus men, stratified by age group, shows a remarkable ODDS ratio for adults (over 16 years old) with an extremely reduced confidence interval at 95% (3.26 < 3.41 < 3.56). The ISO adjustment charts do not currently take into account a major risk factor, the feminine sex. Among the possible preventive measures that can be taken for ACL ruptures in women is to evoke the decrease in adjustment values. There are no studies that prove the effectiveness of a decrease in adjustment values on the incidence of ACL ruptures, but there are corroborating arguments in favor of a positive action. The only risks of a decrease in the adjustment are extremely low, in particular that of inadvertent release. Different authors have demonstrated the possibility of a decrease in adjustment without inadvertent release. We suggest, beside the education of the skiers, in the prevention of the phantom foot, a 15% decrease in binding adjustment values for women over 25 years old, and 30% for beginners with less than 7 days of skiing.

There has been much discussion in recent years regarding appropriate settings for release bindings in Alpine skiing. The authors take into account the fact that current recommended release criteria are based on midshaft tibia bone strength. The hypothesis of this work is to look at a link between binding release values and all lower limb injuries. Additionally, there is a proposal regarding the possibility of reducing injuries to the ligaments in the knee through modification of binding release value standards. Knee injuries including rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament remain a major risk for skiers and for women in particular. In July, 2000, the French standards group, AFNOR, recommended a modification to the ISO 11088 standard for release settings specifically designed to reduce binding release values particularly for women and for individuals with body weight less than 55 kg. The objective of this study is to measure the influence of binding release values on lower leg injuries, in particular for women. A case-control study at Flaine ski resort in 2006 was conducted to determine whether there is proof of causation between ski binding release values and lower leg injuries sustained on the ski slopes. Release torque values were measured for injured (n=129) and control (n=339) groups. The measurements were made for Alpine skiers by using standard measurement devices. Comparisons between recommended release settings based on AFNOR FD S 52-748 compared to actual release levels as a function of fall mechanism speed, type of release, type of ski, and self-reported experience level were analyzed statistically. There is a statistical link between AFNOR standard ski binding release values and injuries of lower limbs. We believe it is important to introduce a gender parameter in ISO binding release value tables to reduce the release values for women.

There has been much discussion in recent years regarding appropriate settings for release bindings in Alpine skiing. The authors take into account the fact that current recommended release criteria are based on midshaft tibia bone strength. The hypothesis of this work is to look at a link between binding release values and all lower limb injuries. Additionally, there is a proposal regarding the possibility of reducing injuries to the ligaments in the knee through modification of binding release value standards. Knee injuries including rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament remain a major risk for skiers and for women in particular. In July, 2000, the French standards group, AFNOR, recommended a modification to the ISO 11088 standard for release settings specifically designed to reduce binding release values particularly for women and for individuals with body weight less than 55 kg. The objective of this study is to measure the influence of binding release values on lower leg injuries, in particular for women. A case-control study at Flaine ski resort in 2006 was conducted to determine whether there is proof of causation between ski binding release values and lower leg injuries sustained on the ski slopes. Release torque values were measured for injured (n=129) and control (n=339) groups. The measurements were made for Alpine skiers by using standard measurement devices. Comparisons between recommended release settings based on AFNOR FD S 52-748 compared to actual release levels as a function of fall mechanism speed, type of release, type of ski, and self-reported experience level were analyzed statistically. There is a statistical link between AFNOR standard ski binding release values and injuries of lower limbs. We believe it is important to introduce a gender parameter in ISO binding release value tables to reduce the release values for women.