Injuries and illnesses in a cohort of elite youth alpine ski racers and the influence of biological maturity and relative age: a two-season prospective study

Müller, Lisa; Hildebrandt, Carolin; Müller, Erich; Oberhoffer, Renate; Raschner, Christian

doi:10.2147/oajsm.s133811

Cited by 35 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…While for younger athletes (ie, skiers before the growth spurt), no sex differences and relatively low absolute rates of acute injuries were reported (15.8 injuries per 100 athletes per winter season), 21 and two studies in elite athletes (ie, skiers after the growth spurt) revealed absolute injury rates of 36.7 and 36.2 injuries per 100 athletes per winter season 14,15 . Moreover, on the elite level males were found to have higher overall injury rates than females 14,15 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, there are only three epidemiological studies that focused on youth competitive alpine skiers yet. While in a skiing cohort with an average age of 11.7 years, the rates of acute and overuse injuries were still relatively low, 21 for skiers after growth spurt (16.7 years in average) injury risk revealed to be as high as at the elite level 18,19 . These observations may lead to the hypothesis that the growth spurt induces a first substantial increase in injury risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Health problems in youth competitive alpine skiing: A 12‐month observation of 155 athletes around the growth spurt

Schoeb

Peterhans

Fröhlich

et al. 2020

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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Alpine ski racing is known as a high‐risk sport; however, little is known on the health problems occurring at youth level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of health problems in youth competitive alpine skiers with respect to sex, age, and season differences, to describe their severity and location and to assess the influence of biological maturation. Over a 12‐month period, 155 youth competitive alpine skiers around the growth spurt were prospectively monitored for health problems using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) questionnaire. These data were verified by supplemental interviews at the end. Biological maturation was estimated by a non‐invasive, anthropometric‐based assessment method. During competition season, 42.2% of the skiers suffered from health problems and 19.8% reported their problem being substantial. Females had significantly higher rates of acute and overuse injuries compared to males, while there was no sex difference in duration, severity, and time loss. Skiers of the category U15 showed higher prevalence of acute and overuse injuries than U14 skiers. During preparation season, health problem prevalence was substantially lower. The knee was found to be the most affected body part for both acute and overuse injuries. There was a direct association between the offset to the age at peak height velocity (APHV) and the occurrence and severity of acute injuries. In conclusion, youth competitive alpine skiers suffer from a large number of health problems. Since sex, age, and biological maturation are important, effective injury prevention should already start before reaching the APHV.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Health problems in youth competitive alpine skiing: A 12‐month observation of 155 athletes around the growth spurt

Schoeb

Peterhans

Fröhlich

et al. 2020

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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show abstract

“…There is no knowledge available to substantiate whether injuries and burnout early in an athlete’s career will result in premature departure of sport. The relative age effect is an often discussed topic, favouring those athletes born early in a calendar year 64. There were different age classes across sports in BA YOG (online supplementary appendix 9), but these were more due to practical issues related to qualification events within each International Sports Federation to make up the final participants for BA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do the new Olympic sports compare with the traditional Olympic sports? Injury and illness at the 2018 Youth Olympic Summer Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina

et al. 2019

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ObjectiveTo describe injuries and illnesses across traditional and new sports among the participating athletes of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Summer Games (BA YOG) (6–18 October 2018).MethodsWe recorded the daily number of athlete injuries and illnesses (1) through the reporting of all National Olympic Committee (NOC) medical teams and (2) in the polyclinic and medical venues manned by the BA YOG 2018 medical staff.ResultsIn total, 3.984 athletes from 206 NOCs were observed. NOCs and BA YOG 2018 medical staff reported 619 injuries and 334 illnesses, equalling 15.5 injuries and 8.4 illnesses per 100 athletes over the 13-day period. The eight new sports on the Youth Olympic programme (futsal, beach handball, karate, roller speed skating, kitesurfing, BMX freestyle, climbing and break dancing) fell in between the other sports with respect to injury and illness risk. Injury incidence was highest in rugby (43% of all rugby players), followed by boxing (33%) and badminton (24%), and lowest in swimming, archery, roller speed skating, equestrian, climbing and rowing (<5%). The highest incidences of illness were recorded in golf (20%), followed by triathlon (16%), beach volleyball and diving (both 14%). Of the illnesses, 50% affected the respiratory system and 15% the gastrointestinal system. Injury and illness incidences varied between continents with athletes representing Europe having significantly fewer injuries and illnesses compared with other continents, apart from a similar illness incidence to Asian athletes.ConclusionThe overall injury incidence of 15.5 injuries per 100 athletes was higher, while the overall illness incidence of 8.4 illnesses per 100 athletes was similar to previous youth and Olympic Games. The new sports did not differ significantly compared with the other sports with respect to injury and illness risk.

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“…Taller, heavier and early maturing athletes have performance and selection advantages in youth alpine ski racing [35,36] and are at a lower injury risk or less vulnerable for severe injuries [37]. The adolescent growth spurt leads to anthropometric changes, and therefore, affects coordinative abilities [38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship of Changes in Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics over One Season, Biological Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Ski Racers: A Prospective Study

Steidl-Müller

Hildebrandt

Müller

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Alpine ski racing is a sport with a high risk of injuries. In order to contribute to the longitudinal career development of young athletes, prevention measures should be elaborated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate prospectively the role of biological maturity status, and changes in anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters over one season in elite youth ski racers younger than 15 years. Eighty-nine elite youth ski racers (39 females, 50 males), aged 10-14 years (mean age: 12.1 ± 1.3), were investigated. Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters were assessed prior and after the winter season; traumatic and overuse injuries were recorded over the 32 weeks. Binary logistic regression analyses (R 2 = 0.202-0.188) revealed that the biological maturity (Wald = 4.818; p = 0.028), and changes over the season in the jump agility test (Wald = 4.692; p = 0.03), in body height (Wald = 6.229; p = 0.013), and in leg length (Wald = 4.321; p = 0.038) represented significant injury risk factors. Athletes who could improve their jump agility performance more, had smaller changes in the anthropometric characteristics and who were closer to their peak height velocity were at a lower injury risk. In the context of injury prevention, regular neuromuscular training should be incorporated, and phases of rapid growth have to be considered.

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Injuries and illnesses in a cohort of elite youth alpine ski racers and the influence of biological maturity and relative age: a two-season prospective study

Cited by 35 publications

References 36 publications

Health problems in youth competitive alpine skiing: A 12‐month observation of 155 athletes around the growth spurt

Health problems in youth competitive alpine skiing: A 12‐month observation of 155 athletes around the growth spurt

How do the new Olympic sports compare with the traditional Olympic sports? Injury and illness at the 2018 Youth Olympic Summer Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Relationship of Changes in Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics over One Season, Biological Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Ski Racers: A Prospective Study

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