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Potential Health Benefits From Downhill Skiing
Martin Burtscher1, Peter A Federolf1, Werner Nachbauer1
1Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Frontiers in Physiology
|January 30, 2019
Summary
Downhill skiing may promote healthy aging and a healthier lifestyle with increased physical activity. While potential benefits for musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and psycho-social health exist, more research is needed to confirm these effects.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Downhill skiing is a popular global winter sport.
- Extensive research exists on skiing-related injuries and fatalities.
- Data on the positive health impacts of downhill skiing is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the favorable health effects of downhill skiing.
- To synthesize findings from a multidisciplinary perspective.
- To identify research gaps in understanding skiing's health benefits.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a literature search for original articles on downhill/alpine skiing.
- Included studies on skiing interventions and questionnaire-based evaluations.
- Assessed health effects across cardiorespiratory, neurophysiological, musculoskeletal, and psycho-social domains.
Main Results:
- 21 original articles were included in the review.
- Regular downhill skiing is associated with a healthier lifestyle and increased physical activity, potentially aiding healthy aging.
- Potential benefits include musculoskeletal and postural adaptations, positive responses to cold exposure and intermittent hypoxia, and emotional/social advantages.
Conclusions:
- Downhill skiing may contribute to healthy aging and overall well-being.
- Several plausible mechanisms suggest broad health benefits.
- Reliable data supporting these proposed mechanisms remains scarce, highlighting the need for further investigation.
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