Abstract

75 of the injuries sustained by members of the Swedish national cross-country ski team during 1983 and 1984 were overuse injuries while 25 resulted from trauma. The most common overuse injuries included medial-tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendon problems and lower back pain. Most common among traumatic injuries were ankle ligament sprains and fractures, muscle ruptures, and knee ligament sprains. Shoulder dislocation, acromioclavicular separation and rotator cuff tears are not infrequent in cross-country skiing. Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpal phalangeal joint of the thmunb (Steners lesion) is the most common ski injury involving the upper extremity. Cross-country skiers 16 to 21 years of age complained more frequently of mild lower back pain than similary aged non-skiers. This may result from repeetitive hyperextension motions during the kick phase and the recurring spinal flexion and extension during the double poling phase. Repeated slipping on hard and icy tracks infrequently produce partial tears or microtrauma in the muscle tendinous units of the groin. Femoral neck fractures may be sustained after directive trauma to the greater trochanter when the skier falls to the side on hard snow or ice. These fractures are especially serious in young people. Fractures of the tibia and fibula are less frequent in cross-country than in alpine skiing, but still occasionally occur. Verf.-Referat