Telemark skiing injuries: characteristics and risk factors
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
|January 11, 2000
Summary
Telemark skiing frequently causes knee, thumb, shoulder, and ankle injuries, particularly at resort areas. Ignoring thumb injuries can lead to long-term issues, and leather boots increase severe ankle injury risk.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Telemark skiing is a unique skiing discipline with distinct biomechanical demands.
- Understanding injury patterns is crucial for prevention and management in telemark skiers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common telemark skiing injuries.
- To investigate the influence of skill level, equipment, and terrain on injury occurrence.
- To analyze the effectiveness of safety equipment, such as release bindings.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to North American telemark skiers.
- Data collected included injury types, locations, equipment used, and skier demographics.
- Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between variables and injury outcomes.
Main Results:
- Knee (128), thumb (80), shoulder (66), and ankle (44) injuries were most prevalent.
- Injuries were more common at lift-served areas (74.2%) than in the backcountry (25.8%).
- Leather boots were associated with a higher risk of severe ankle injury (OR=8.0), while release bindings showed a protective effect (OR=0.59).
Conclusions:
- The knee, thumb, shoulder, and ankle are primary sites for telemark skiing injuries.
- Lift-served areas present a higher risk compared to backcountry skiing.
- Thumb injuries are frequently overlooked, potentially leading to chronic problems, and release bindings, though protective, often fail to release.
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