A model for potential non-contact ski injuries of the knee

Broadly accepted is that most knee injuries result from increased vertical forces, usually induced by an incidental ski fall, collision, or a high jump. We present a new non-contact knee injury mechanism that can happen during a ski turn. Such an injury is governed by a sudden inward turn of the inner ski and consequent swing of the inner leg followed by a nearly instant stop when locked by hip and knee joints. The model provides predictive results for a lateral tibial plateau compression fracture because several simplifications have been made. We confirmed that the modelled compression stresses at typical skiing conditions and with typical skiing equipment can provoke serious knee injuries. The awareness of skiers and skiing equipment industry of the described knee injury mechanism can act as an important injury-prevention factor.