A Comparison of ACL Injury Risk, Ski Geometry and Standing Height Parameters between Skiers with Rented and with Owned Skis

Abstract

Aim: to evaluate if ACL injuries are associated with recreational skiers using rented skis and whether individual factors, ski geometry parameters and standing heights differ between skiers who rented or owned skis. A retrospective questionnaire-based, case–control study of ACL-injured and uninjured recreational skiers was conducted during six winter seasons. Age, sex, body height, body weight, nationality, ownership of skis, skill level, risk-taking behavior, ski length, side-cut radius, widths of the tip, waist, and tail, and the standing heights at the front and rear components of the ski binding were assessed. Additionally, ratios between ski widths and a standing height ratio were calculated. Altogether, 1780 skiers (48.9% females) with a mean age of 39.2 ± 13.0 years participated, of whom 22.0% sustained an ACL injury and 32.3% rented skis. ACL injury risk was significantly associated with rented skis (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.5–4.0). Compared to skiers using own skis, participants who rented skis were more likely female, smaller and lighter, tourists, less skilled and more cautious. In comparison to owned skis, rented skis showed significantly lower mean values in ski length, side-cut radius, ski widths, and for the three ski widths ratios. Additionally, standing heights were significantly lower while standing height ratio was higher for rented skis. Beside individual factors, equipment-related factors should be considered when renting skis in order to reduce ACL injury risk.

Muscular Fatigue and Quadriceps-to-Hamstring Ratio in Alpine Skiing in Women over 40 Years

“…All interventions to reduce the injury risk need an extensive understanding of the manifold factors which influence this risk. Besides external influences, such as weather conditions [ 2 ], trail conditions [ 3 ], and equipment [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], internal factors of the skiing individual are important influences. Some of these factors can be altered by the skier, such as the physical condition [ 7 , 8 ], skiing skill level [ 9 ] and alcohol use [ 10 ]; others, such as age [ 9 , 11 ] and sex [ 12 , 13 ], cannot be influenced.…”