Ski sickness in adolescents skiers

ABSTRACT

There is shortage of knowledge about medical problems in adolescents skiers. This study aimed to determine frequency of medical signs and symptoms during or after ski among adolescents skiers. This cross sectional study was performed in 1 2 consecutive weekends in winter 2005 at Dizin ski piste in Iran. All adolescents skiers [<16years] who had entered the piste during this time period were enrolled in the study. A questionnaire including demographics, duration of transport to the piste, wearing glasses and contact lenses for medical and non medical applications, duration and frequency of skiing and development of signs and symptoms of ski sickness during or after skiing was filled for each participant. In addition to determination of frequency of medical problems, association of mentioned variables with medical problems was investigated. Of 162 skiers, 111 subjects [68.5%] were males. The mean age of the participants was 14.7 +/- 2.1 years. Of them, 127 skiers wore glasses or lens during skiing. Visual disorders including myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were found in 24 [14.8%] skiers. Our study showed that the frequency of main ski-related signs and symptoms varies from 0 to 10.5%. There was significant association between occurrence of signs and symptoms and presence of visual disorder [P=0.015]. Our results showed that development of ski-related signs and symptoms is relatively frequent. These signs and symptoms have association with minor ophthalmologic problems such as myopia or astigmatism