PRESS RELEASE

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
For Immediate Release Oct 29, 2009


ROSEMONT, IL – Alpine skiing is often considered one of the most dangerous winter sports around, especially with the horrific crash videos replayed during the evening sports casts. However, a new study published in the November/December issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach investigates and debunks 12 common myths associated with the sport. “There are many common misperceptions about skiing safety and equipment needs,” said lead author, Robert J. Johnson, MD, Emeritus Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Vermont. “Our study reviewed the literature concerning 12 of the most common topics related to skiing and determined that all or at least part of each of the myths could not be substantiated.”

The 12 myths that Johnson and his colleagues analyzed included:

• Skiing is among the most dangerous of activities 
Truth: The approximate annual fatality rate per million hours of exposure associated with cars (~0.30) and bicycles (0.07) is essentially the same as that for skiing (0.12).

• Broken legs have been traded for blown-out knees 
Truth: The increase in anterior cruciate ligament injuries came later than did the decrease in lower leg injuries; the two groups involve completely different mechanisms of injury. 

• All you need to know is your DIN (release indicator value) number and you can adjust your bindings
Truth: Inspection and calibration of ski bindings is a complex process that requires specialized tools, equipment and properly trained technicians.

• Toe and heel pieces must be set to the same Release Indicator Value or the bindings won’t function properly
Truth:  Today’s standards allow for personalized release/retention settings that may result in different indicator values at the toe and the heel.

• Formal ski instructions will make you safer 
Truth: In most studies done in North America and Europe, skiing lessons did not decrease the risk of injury and have not been shown to be an effective method for injury prevention.

• The shorter the ski, the less torque is applied to the leg in a fall– –short skis don’t need release bindings
Truth: Several case control studies have demonstrated a three- to twenty-fold increase in the incidence of ankle and tibia fractures for persons using skiboarders compared to traditional alpine skis. Release bindings should be a requirement for skis of any length.

• Young bones bend rather than break, so there is no point in spending a lot of money on children’s equipment 
Truth:  Children are at highest risk for potential equipment related injuries, and therefore require properly functioning equipment if that risk is to be minimized    

• When buying boots for children, leave plenty of room for fast-growing feet 
Truth: Poor fitting boots are a major factor leading to lower leg fractures and sprains in young children. If the foot can easily move within the boot, the binding release function is compromised.

• If you think you are going to fall, just relax and let it happen 
Truth: Skiers should assume the posture of a parachutist just before landing and keep joints flexed moderately. Muscles of the extremities and trunk should be strongly contracted; this response will stiffen and protect bones and joints

• Exercise is the best way to avoid skiing-related injuries 
Truth: There is no convincing evidence that conditioning of any type can reduce the risk of alpine skiing injuries, however, there is no downside to good physical condition and it may improve the enjoyment of skiing. 

• Tighter standards that mandate lower release settings will reduce the risk of injury to the ACL 
Truth: The primary mechanisms for ACL injury is not related to binding function, so any reduction in the binding release values would not reduce the risk of ACL injury but could increase the frequency of inadvertent releases.

• Buying new ski equipment is safer than renting 
Truth: Rental equipment from shops following current standards is inspected for proper function and wear and tear every time it is rented; user-owned equipment is normally inspected only at the beginning of each season.  

“Anyone who advises skiers on safety issues and medical care should be certain that the advice given is true and accurate. Our review highlights how when many of these myths are propagated, additional harm and injury can come to the skier,” said Johnson. 


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Published bimonthly, Sports Health is a collaborative publication from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), and the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS).  Other organizations participating in the publication include the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM). For more information on the publication or to submit a manuscript, visit www.sportshealthjournal.org. For more information on this press release, please contact Lisa Weisenberger at [email protected] or 847-292-4900.


NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 4000 W. 114th St., Suite 100, Leawood, KS 66211, (913) 327-1415.

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Phone: 913.327.1415


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