Perceptions of experts on key injury risk factors in alpine ski racing as a function of stakeholder role and associated level of competition
Open Access
- 16 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
- Vol. 7 (3), e001111
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001111
Abstract
Objectives (1) To update experts’ priorities of perceived key injury risk factors in alpine ski racing based on a framework and list derived 10 years ago, (2) to identify additionally emerging risk factors since then and (3) to compile a list with countermeasure suggestions. Methods A sample of 532 expert stakeholders (athletes, coaches, team medical staff, Ski Racing Suppliers (SRS) and International Ski Federation (FIS) representatives) from the World Cup (WC), European Cup (EC) and FIS-race level participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Experts were asked to name those risk factors with the highest believed impact on injury risk and rank them according to their current priority from a predefined list. In addition, experts were encouraged to name additional (not listed) risk factors and to suggest countermeasures. Results Regardless of stakeholder role and competition level, snow-related factors appeared to have the highest perceived priority. However, WC athletes’ and coaches’ perceptions were also related to equipment, while at the EC and FIS-race level fatigue and physical fitness-related factors were considered important. Athletes’ perceptions were largely in agreement with SRS (ie, snow-related and equipment-related factors). At the same time, while coaches, team medical staff and FIS representatives additionally emphasised fatigue and physical fitness-related factors. Conclusion Experts’ perceptions on key injury risk factors in alpine ski racing depend on the stakeholder role and differ between the competition levels. Thus, to develop effective prevention measures and to successfully implement them, all relevant stakeholders should be given a voice, and prevention efforts should be targeted to the specific level.Keywords
Funding Information
- International Ski Federation (Injury Surveillance & Prevention Programme (ISPP))
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- Equipment designed to reduce risk of severe traumatic injuries in alpine ski racing: constructive collaboration between the International Ski Federation, industry and scienceBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015
- Effect of ski geometry on aggressive ski behaviour and visual aesthetics: equipment designed to reduce risk of severe traumatic knee injuries in alpine giant slalom ski racingBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015
- Characterization of Course and Terrain and Their Effect on Skier Speed in World Cup Alpine Ski RacingPLOS ONE, 2015
- Mechanics of turning and jumping and skier speed are associated with injury risk in men's World Cup alpine skiing: a comparison between the competition disciplinesBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014
- A systematic video analysis of 69 injury cases in World Cup alpine skiingScandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2013
- Course setting and selected biomechanical variables related to injury risk in alpine ski racing: an explorative case studyBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012
- The relationship between ACL injuries and physical fitness in young competitive ski racers: a 10-year longitudinal studyBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012
- Perceived key injury risk factors in World Cup alpine ski racing—an explorative qualitative study with expert stakeholdersBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012
- Events leading to anterior cruciate ligament injury in World Cup Alpine Skiing: a systematic video analysis of 20 casesBritish Journal of Sports Medicine, 2011
- Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics supportJournal of Biomedical Informatics, 2008