The use of medication and alcohol in recreational downhill skiers: Results of a survey including 816 subjects in Tyrol.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to collect data on the medication and alcohol use in recreational downhill skiers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study was conducted during the 2014 winter season in different ski resorts in Tyrol, Austria. Participants were asked to complete a brief survey including questions about basic anthropometric data (age, stature, weight) the use of medication (yes/no) and alcohol intake on the skiing day or the day before (yes/no). RESULTS: In total, 816 persons with an age between 6-87 years were surveyed. In general, 22% of the male and 20% of the female recreational downhill skiers reported the use of medication. In the age group >40 years, half of the respondents were taking medication on a regular basis. 30% of males and 16% of females reported to consume alcohol on the skiing day whereas more than 50% drank alcohol on the evening before skiing the next day. 63% of those under medication concomitantly consumed alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm a high prevalence of medication use and alcohol consumption in recreational downhill skiers. Even more importantly, 63% of skiers under medication concomitantly consumed alcohol. Considering the fact that only a small amount of alcohol can already affect motor and cognitive skills, it may be strongly assumed that the risk for skiing injuries is increased with alcohol consumption. Side effects of simultaneous intake of drugs and alcohol may include hypotension, vertigo and collapse which are thought to be associated with increased risks of skiing falls and injuries.

Factors associated with the ability to estimate actual speeds in recreational alpine skiers.

OBJECTIVE: To measure on-slope speeds of alpine skiers and to compare their ability to accurately estimate their actual speed with regard to measured speed, age, sex, skill level, helmet use, and risk-taking behavior. METHODS: Skiing speeds of 416 adult skiers (62% men, 38% women) were measured with a radar speed gun. Skiers were interviewed about their age, sex, skiing ability, helmet use, and risk-taking behavior. Additionally, skiers had to estimate their measured speed as accurately as possible. The difference between estimated and measured speed was described as error of estimation (EE). RESULTS: Mean measured speed (±SD) of all participants was 48.2 (±14.3) km/h. Pearson correlation coefficient between the actual speed and the estimated speed was 0.57 (P < .001) for all participants. Skiers underestimated their measured speed on average by 5.8 km/h or 8.1%. A multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that when skiing speed is increased by 1 km/h the EE significantly decreases by 0.5 km/h. Male sex, higher skill level, risky skiing behavior, and younger age groups showed a significantly better ability to estimate skiing speed, whereas ski helmet use did not. CONCLUSIONS: Skiing speed, age, sex, skill level, and risk-taking behavior seem to influence the ability to estimate actual speeds in recreational alpine skiers.

Factors associated with injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries.

In alpine winter sports, external risk factors as snow and weather conditions as well as slope characteristics (width, steepness, slope intersections, and snow parks) should be considered when investigating potential risk factors. Therefore, ski patrol injury reports were used to compare factors associated with injuries occurred on slope intersections and in snow parks compared to on-slope injuries. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that in comparison to injuries occurring on ski slopes, collisions with other persons (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4) and arm injuries (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.5) were more likely associated with injuries occurring on slope intersections while male gender (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1-5.7), younger age (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.1), slushy/soft snow conditions (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3), knee injuries (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8) and back injuries (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 3.0-10.2) were more likely associated with injuries which occurred in snow parks. In conclusion, injuries on slope intersections and in snow parks differ in some factors from injuries sustained on ski slopes.