Consideration of the anterior cruciate ligament injury in skiing

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee is a common ski injury. At a typical ski area clinic in Wyoming, an average of one per day is diagnosed over the 120-day ski season. Other ski clinics report a similar incidence of ACL injuries. In view of the 570 registered ski slopes in the United States, the ACL injuries occur at epidemic proportions. Under consideration are causal factors involved in the typical skier's ACL injury, such as recent evolutions in skiing techniques, boot styles, the skier's environment, and the anatomic considerations relating to body mechanics that place the ACL in a position of compromise in the intercondylar notch. Clear identification of the mechanism of ski injury of the ACL is difficult. As the significant causative factors become identified, and with the stimulation of further interest and research, there is some promise for prevention in the future.