[Recreational or professional participants in Nordic skiing. Differences in injury patterns and severity of injuries]

A total of 441 Nordic skiing injuries were observed and analysed for a period of two winter seasons. The data showed that athletes in squads (0.02/1000 days) or professional clubs (0.09/1000 days) have lower injury risks compared to those doing Nordic skiing in their leisure time (0.51/1000 days). Amongst recreational athletes, women (0.65/1000 days) sustain trauma more frequently than men (0.40/1000 days). In professional athletes, the upper limb is commonly injured, whereas there are fewer head and trunk injuries. Furthermore the injured in this group are younger and have less severe injuries. Recreational athletes more often injure their lower limb and 20 % have injuries to the head and trunk. Those injured in this group are older and have a higher percentage of overweight people, are not well trained and have more severe or complex injuries compared to professionals.