Effects of Visual and Auditory Perturbations on Ski-Specific Balance among Males and Females-A Randomized Crossover Trial

Relationship between Lower Extremity Fitness Levels and Injury Risk among Recreational Alpine Skiers: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Although the importance of physical fitness for injury prevention is recognized in sports medicine and rehabilitation, few studies have investigated this factor among recreational alpine skiers. Objective: To determine the effect of lower extremity fitness on the risk and severity of injury among recreational alpine skiers. Method: This prospective cohort study involved 117 recreational skiers at two alpine resorts during the 2021−2022 winter season. Anthropometric characteristics, skiing skills, and lower extremity agility (hexagon test), balance (Y-Balance Test), and endurance (60-s squat test) were assessed before the winter season. All of the participants were divided into an injured group and an uninjured group, based on whether an injury was recorded throughout the season. Results: In binary logistic regression, the hexagon test duration and composite Y-Balance Test score were significant injury risk factors (p < 0.05). Ordinal polytomous logistic regression revealed no significant factors for injury severity (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Recreational alpine skiers with inferior lower extremity agility or balance may have a higher injury risk and this must be considered when assessing individual risk. In the context of injury prevention, regular neuromuscular training and testing, including agility and balance aspects should be recommended to skiers.

Effect of Skiing on Physical Performance, Pain, and Quality of Life Based on Gender

Context: Identifying gender-specific differentiation in each sport type is significant. In this way, sport- and gender-specific gains can be predicted. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of skiing on physical performance, pain, quality of life, and gender-based differentiation. Design: Crossover trial. Methods: Sixty-eight volunteers, between 18 and 25 years of age, with no history of severe trauma in the spine and extremities, participated in our study. The skiers group consisted of licensed athletes (17 males and 17 females) who did active skiing for at least the past 2 years, the control group consisted of nonathletic and age-matched participants with no skiing experience (17 males and 17 females). Step test, vertical jump test, Flamingo balance test, hand-grip strength, and back-leg-chest strength measurements were performed to evaluate physical performance. Visual Analog Scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire were used to evaluate pain experience. Quality of life was evaluated with Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results: Compared to the sedentary controls, VAS-activity and Oswestry Disability Index scores were lower; and aerobic performance, balance, hand-grip strength, back-leg-chest strength, and quality of life (SF-36-general health, SF-36-vitality, SF-36-mental health, and SF-total score) were higher in skiers. Skiing was found to be effective in eliminating gender-based differentiation of the variables of hand-grip strength, pain, and quality of life; however, back-leg-chest strength and anaerobic performance variables were found to be ineffective in eliminating gender differentiation. Conclusions: Skiing allows that the individual increases physical performance and quality of life. It can also minimize gender-based differentiation of certain variables, such as muscular force, pain, and quality of life.

Objectively Measured Physical Activity Is Associated with Static Balance in Young Adults

Purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) strengthens muscles and improves balance and coordination of human body. The aim of this study was to examine whether objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors were related to static balance in young men and women. Design and setting: Cross-sectional community study. Participants: 86 healthy adults (50% women) aged 21.26 ± 2.11 years. Method: PA variables, including moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), sedentary time (SED), and sedentary breaks, were measured by accelerometers on wrist (ActiGraph WGT3X-BT). The static balance was tested in the bipedal stance with eyes open or closed. The movement of the center of pressure, including total sway path length (SP), sway velocity (SV), and sway area (SA), was recorded with a three-dimensional force platform (Kistler 9287CA). The associations between PA (MVPA/LPA/SED/sedentary breaks) and static balance (SP/SV/SA) were analyzed using mixed linear regression analyses, with adjustments for condition (eyes open/closed), sex, age, body mass index (BMI), total device wearing time, and PA*condition. Data were analyzed with SPSS 24.0. Results: Better performance was observed in eyes-open condition (p < 0.05). MVPA was negatively associated with SA (p = 0.030), and SED was positively associated with SA after adjustments, respectively (p = 0.0004). No significance was found in the association of light PA, SED, or sedentary breaks with other static balance variables, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Increasing MVPA and less SED are associated with lower sway area measured by force platform, indicating more PA may related to better static balance in young adults.

Editorial on the Special Issue on "Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention"

Recreational outdoor activities like mountain sports are gaining large popularity all over the world and particularly in the Alpine regions [...].