Abstract des Autors

Although data are difficult to interpret because injury reporting is often sketchy, in the past 15 years the overall injury rate for skiers seems to have decreased by about 50. One of the most important factors in this decline has been the development of improved equipment. Whereas formerly the principal severe skiing injury was the tibial fracture, now knee ligament injuries are dominant, probably because the newer boots block ankle rotation and transfer forces to the knee. Equipment plays such a major role in injury protection that skiers should choose it carefully with the help of knowledgeable ski shop personnel. In this discussion, participants examine how safe skiing is, pointing out that skiing safety is a function of the rate and severity of the injuries, both of which are difficult to define and measure. Other topics discussed include types of equipment needed to prevent injury and trends in equipment design. Verf.-Referat