We know a lot about little and little about a lot: A contextualized scoping review on injury prevention in alpine ski racing

International Ski and Snowboard Federation consensus statement on warm-up and cool-down in competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders

In diverse sports, warm-up (WUP) and cool-down (CD) activities are highly effective at improving performance-relevant factors and reducing the risk of injury when applied systematically; however, scientific evidence is widely lacking in snow sports. Similarly, there is a lack of international harmonisation with current best practices; this especially applies to prevention efforts targeting younger athletes. This International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) consensus statement aims to develop and promote recommendations regarding physical and psychological WUP&CD in competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders. The selected panel members represented a group of experts diverse in terms of gender, expertise/background, level of competition and skiing and snowboarding discipline. They included researchers, officials, physicians, physiotherapists, coaches or former athletes with extensive experience in the subject area. However, there was a gender imbalance in the composition of the panel (7 women and 13 men) and certain freestyle disciplines (eg, aerials and moguls) were under-represented. Most importantly, there was a strong over-representation of European members (85%) on the consensus panel. For the consensus process, the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method was used. The panellists were asked to rate, discuss and rerate statements derived from the literature or expert/panellist opinions. The process was based on three online consensus sessions with different preparatory and follow-up tasks and three rounds of an online survey to vote on the statements. The final version of the FIS consensus statement was developed and approved after two iterative rounds of manuscript revision by the panel members. It is intended to guide athletes, coaches, medical staff of international and national federations and other entities who can promote and support appropriate WUP&CD practices for competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders by providing support, resources or infrastructure.

A Survey on Current Practices, Needs, Responsibilities and Preferences for Knowledge Dissemination in the Field of Injury and Illness Prevention Among Competitive Snow Sports Stakeholders

BACKGROUND

Injury and illness prevention practices in competitive snow sports must be better understood among stakeholders. In particular, there is a need for a greater understanding of what context-specific stakeholders require for prevention. Therefore, this study surveyed stakeholders' current practices, needs, responsibilities and knowledge dissemination preferences related to injury and illness prevention in competitive snow sports and described the main commonalities and differences between stakeholder groups.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study that used an online survey developed using Kipling's principle (the "5W1H" method) and targeted athletes, coaches, team staff, ski racing suppliers, and representatives from all competition levels and all competitive snow sports governed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. The data were analysed following both quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses.

RESULTS

Most of the 436 respondents believed in and reported needing more information on injury and illness prevention. The participants stated that the main goal of prevention was to avoid injuries and minimise their time away from being on snow, and they stressed their different underlying motivations. Despite the differences across subgroups, participants highlighted knee and head injuries and concussions as their primary injury prevention targets and priorities for additional information. Respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses were reported as their main targets of illness prevention, but more information on all illnesses was reported. Current practices and priorities for additional information fell under athlete-, equipment-, snow/environment-, and course-related prevention areas. Moreover, stakeholders highlighted their need for more information on mental health and training. Shared responsibilities were identified across the development, dissemination, and implementation of prevention, along with stakeholders' preferred communication channels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides meaningful insights across athlete, equipment-, snow/environment-, and course-related prevention areas related to snow sports, roles, and competition levels. These insights may inform the development, dissemination and further implementation of any tailored and context-driven preventive measure by better addressing end-users' needs. These findings may support successful future preventive interventions by providing key elements and a clear path to improve athletes' health and safety.

"Health is Just the Basic Requirement for Optimal Performance and Winning": Stakeholders' Perceptions on Testing and Training in Competitive Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Competitive alpine skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing, all different in nature and risks, are known for their high injury and illness burden. Testing measures and training methods may be considered for athletes' preparation to support performance enhancement while safeguarding their health. We explored the perspectives and perceptions of competitive alpine skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing stakeholders regarding testing and training practices in their competitive snow sports.

METHODS

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study based on grounded theory principles through 13 semi-structured interviews about testing and training practices with athletes, on-snow and off-snow coaches, managers and healthcare providers from different national teams. The interviews were inductively analysed through a constant comparative data analysis.

RESULTS

Participants described winning as the end goal of testing and training practices, which requires athletes to perform in their best condition. To do so, they mentioned two main targets: performance enhancement and health protection. Participants acknowledged health as a premise to perform optimally, considering testing and monitoring approaches, goal setting, and training to support and protect athlete performance. This continuous cyclic process is driven by communication and shared decision making among all stakeholders, using testing and monitoring outputs to inform goal setting, training (e.g. on-snow and off-snow) and injury prevention. Such an approach helps athletes achieve their goal of winning while being fit and healthy throughout their short-term and long-term athletic career development.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultimate goal of testing measures and training methods in such competitive snow sports is winning. Performance enhancement and health protection act as pillars in systematic, tailored and flexible processes to guarantee athletes' best preparation to perform. Moreover, athletes' assessments, goal setting, monitoring tools, open communication and shared decision making strongly guide this cyclic process.

'Every turn can be the last one I do' - Perceptions of injury risk in high-performance snow sports and its implication for injury prevention

OBJECTIVES

High-performance snow sports (HPSS) athletes compete in a performance-driven context with a high risk of injury. While there is a lack of evidence on effective prevention measures in snow sports, this study explored the perspectives and perceptions of HPSS stakeholders on sports injury prevention.

METHODS

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study based on the grounded theory principles through 11 semistructured interviews with athletes, coaches and healthcare providers from different national teams about sports injury prevention. The interviews were inductively analysed through constant comparative data analysis.

RESULTS

Participants defined risk management as a central concept in which they approached injury prevention by assessing, managing and sometimes accepting risks. Many factors, such as athlete-related and external factors, are considered in this process, ultimately influencing their decision-making. Participants acknowledged the value of experience when managing and dealing with risks, a key aspect of their learning process and career development. Within this context, open and trustworthy communication and shared responsibilities among all stakeholders influenced and shaped injury prevention strategies and behaviours. Understanding and balancing out speed and risks was considered pivotal in their daily practice. Therefore, injury prevention awareness, ownership, communication, teamwork and shared responsibilities may contribute to the success of sports injury prevention in HPSS.

CONCLUSION

These findings substantiate the significance of such contextual factors in sports injury prevention. Considering the high-risk nature of HPSS, injury prevention suggests a shift towards risk management strategies, with a strong emphasis on contextual factors and their interactions. Young athletes might benefit from educational interventions centred on developing skills to assess and manage risks.