Measurements of the Forces Needed to Take Off Classic and Rear Entry Ski Boots

Abstract

Because of concern with the difficulties encountered when removing rear entry ski boots from patients with lower limb injuries, an investigation was undertaken to determine if there are significant differences between the forces necessary to remove a rear entry boot and those necessary to take off a normal entry boot. This laboratory study used an articulated foot with an ankle joint. The angles of the ankle's joint were measured, and the pulling forces necessary to remove the foot from various models of usual and rear entry ski boots were recorded. Records were kept of several different people attempting to remove the boots. It was found that while it was possible to remove normal entry boots from the dummy's foot using reasonable force and without disturbing the foot's position, this was not the case with rear entry boots. In fact, according to the several different candidates, either extra forces were required or the position of the ankle joint had to be altered. Practice and training play a great part in this removal. It has been proven that a doctor trained in the methods of removing boots from the injured skier uses a lower pulling force than an engineer not familiar with such methods. Removing the boot without disturbing the ankle joint and using only reasonable force should be added to the existing standards concerning ski boots presently set by the industry.

Materials, Designs and Standards Used in Ski-Boots for Alpine Skiing

“…However, their production has been decreasing in the following years and rear entry boots are currently used only for youth and rental boots [10]. One of the reasons of this change can be ascribed to the force needed to remove the foot from a rear entry boot that is higher compared to that from an Overlap ski-boot and can be a major problem in case of ankle injuries [11]. Another reason can be connected with the difficulty to adapt the shape of the front part of the shell of the ski-boot to the foot shape and therefore have a precise control of the skis.…”