Korean J Epidemiol.  2007 Jun;29(1):34-45.

A Study of Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries

• Chang W
• Kim S
• Lee J

Abstract

PURPOSE: To calculate the injury rate of skiers and snowboarders, to document the risk factors affecting injury, and to investigate the characteristics of the cause, kind and region of injury.
METHODS
A questionnaire survey was conducted at 4 major Kangwon - province ski resorts during the 2004 - 2005 winter season with 373 skiers and snowboarders. The statistical SPSS was used to analyze data that included chi-square, fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression. The mean mark of the safety rule by separating the skiers and snowboarders was compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The injury and wound experience rates of the snowboarders (46.5%, 34.2% respectively) were higher than those of the skiers (33.2%, 25.5% respectively). The proportion of injury and wound for the skiers was 76.7% and for the snowboarders was 73.6%. The occurrence of injuries was higher among those with ski career of 5 to 9 years (p=0.012), those with a higher level of ski skills (p=0.002), those who used the higher slope (p=0.002) and those who skied 15 to 19 times(p=0.004). Based on the results of logistic regression analysis, the significant risk factors for skiers were career, level, slope and visit number. Leg injuries accounted for 40.9% of total injuries among skiers, which was followed by arm injuries (35.9%) and head injuries (15.4%)(p=0.033).
CONCLUSIONS
The study therefore emphasizes safety training for individual skiers and overall conditions of ski resorts.

Keyword

skiing; snowboarding; wounds and injuries

MeSH Terms

Arm Injuries
Craniocerebral Trauma
Gangwon-do
Health Resorts
Leg Injuries
Logistic Models
Risk Factors
Seasons
Skiing*
Wounds and Injuries
Surveys and Questionnaires