[Current incidence of accidents on Austrian ski slopes]. / Aktuelles Unfallgeschehen auf österreichischen Skipisten.

BACKGROUND: Alpine skiing and snowboarding are the most popular winter sports. These sports are also associated with a certain injury risk which, however, has steadily decreased during the past decades. During the winter season 2002/2003 the last large survey on ski injuries in Austria was performed. Among others, modern skiing equipment and optimized slope preparation may impact on the injury risk. We hypothesise that these changes may have led to a further decrease in ski injuries during the past decade. METHODS: In the winter season 2012/2013, skiing injuries were recorded in 26 Austrian ski areas. Data were collected from rescue personnel on ski slopes and by physicians in the hospital or doctors practice with the help of a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 7325 injured skiers and snowboarders (age: 34.8 ±â€Š17.8 years) were recorded (49 % males and 51 % females; 80 % skiers, 14 % snowboarders, 6 % others). The most frequent causes of injury were self-inflicted falls (87 %) and collisions with other skiers/snowboarders (8 %). Most affected injury locations among skiers were the knee (41 %; predominantly in female skiers, > 50 %), shoulder/back (18 %) and arms (10 %). Most affected injury locations among snowboarders were arms (38 %) and shoulder/back (23 %). Head injuries were found at the same frequency (8 %) in skiers and snowboarders. The calculated injury rate was about 0.6 injuries per 1000 skier days and has decreased by more than 50 % during the past decade. CONCLUSIONS: Modern skiing equipment and optimised slope preparation may be at least partly responsible for the decreased injury risk on ski slopes which is supported by the observation of a reduced falling frequency. Future preventive measures should focus on a reduction of knee injuries in female skiers.

Impact of environmental factors on knee injuries in male and female recreational skiers.

In alpine skiing, the knee represents the dominant injury location with marked gender differences. Snow, slope and weather conditions as well as altitude and low temperatures are thought to influence the prevalence of knee injuries. Therefore, ski patrol injury reports were used to compare gender-specific prevalence of knee injuries with regard to several environmental factors including the actual air temperatures. A total of 1039 non-contact knee injuries were reported with a corresponding prevalence of knee injuries of 44.4% (males: 30.1%; females: 57.4%). Temperature quartiles of all recorded injuries were calculated to compare gender-specific prevalence of knee injury with regard to temperatures. Comparing the first quartile (mean temperature -11°C) with the fourth quartile (mean temperature +3°C), the prevalence of knee injury in female skiers was higher at low ambient temperatures (61% vs 50%, odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-2.22; P=0.005) while no such association was found for male skiers. Additionally, knee-injured females showed a twofold prevalence when skiing during snowfall compared with females with other injuries (15.4% vs 8.6%; P=0.001). No other environmental factor showed a significant association with the gender-specific prevalence of knee injury. In conclusion, low ambient temperature and snowfall are important environmental risk factors for knee injuries in female skiers.

[Mean speed of winter sport participants depending on various factors]. / Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit von Wintersportlern in Abhängigkeit verschiedener Einflussfaktoren.

Objective of this study was to evaluate speeds on ski slopes depending on various factors as gender, age, height, weight, and nationality, helmet use, used type of gear, skiing ability, risk taking behaviour and weather conditions. The average speed measured with a radar speed gun was 44 km/h for all observations. A multivariate logistic regression model revealed five independent factors for higher speeds on slopes: younger age, male gender, skier, higher skill level, and riskier behaviour. Helmet use is not associated with higher speeds on slopes. Therefore, ski helmets have been recommended because helmet use is associated with a considerable reduction of head injury risk. In general, to avoid speed related injuries, preventive recommendations include skiing under speed control consistent with the individual skiing ability, and slope and weather conditions.

[Who is wearing a ski helmet? Helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on various factors]. / Wer trägt einen Skihelm? Helmtragequote auf österreichischen Skipisten in Abhängigkeit verschiedener Einflussfaktoren.

Objective of this study was to evaluate the actual helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on various factors as gender, age, and nationality, used type of gear, skiing ability and risk taking behaviour on slopes. In total, 63% of all observed subjects used ski helmets. However, significant differences have been found with regard to age, nationality, and skiing ability. While 78% of participants younger than 20 years used helmets, only 53% of those over 60 years were wearing ski helmets. Helmet use was significantly higher in locals compared to foreigners (75 vs. 52%) and in more skilled skiers compared to less skilled skiers (67 vs. 47%). No significant differences have been found with regard to gender, used type of gear, and risk taking behaviour. Thus, future helmet campaigns should also be aimed at older people, ski guest from other nations, and less skilled skiers.

Factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, discussions have arisen about the potential influence of wearing a ski helmet on an increasing level of risk taking and higher speeds on ski slopes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour in recreational skiers and snowboarders. METHODS: Speeds of skiers and snowboarders were measured with a radar speed gun and sex, age, nationality, height, weight and helmet use, used type of gear, self-estimated skill level and self-estimated fitness level were recorded. In addition, participants were asked if they considered themselves as cautious or risk-taking skier or snowboarder. RESULTS: In total, 453 skiers (39.6 (14.8) years) and 74 snowboarders (26.4 (9.6) years) have been interviewed. A stepwise forward logistic regression model revealed five independent factors for a risk-taking behaviour on slopes. Adjusted OR and their 95% CI showed that risk takers were <40 years (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.80), had a higher skill level (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.50), were more likely males (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.26), had a lower body mass index (22.8 vs 24.2) and skied with higher speeds (on average 53 vs 45 km/h) compared to cautious skiers. CONCLUSION: Risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes is associated with younger age, higher skiing ability, male sex, lower body mass index and on average higher speeds. Helmet use is not associated with riskier behaviour on slopes. In addition, helmet use has to be recommended because helmet use reduces the risk of head injuries among skiers and snowboarders.