Epidemiology of Ski Injuries: Effect of Method of Skill Acquisition and Release Binding Accident Rates

Abstract

An epidemiological study of a closed population of 2071 skiers investigated the effects of method of skill acquisition and type of release binding on accident rates. The population was observed for an entire skiing season. Accidents numbering 221 were generated by the population. Distributions within the population of age, sex, skill level, years of experience, marital status, and type of binding used were obtained prior to the start of the season. Exposure to risk was obtained at the end of the season. Injury data included measures of severity, location of injury (upper vs. lower extremity), ski patrol involvement, binding release or not, and overall and lower-extremity injury rates. Conclusions drawn are: (1) lessons as presently structured are not contributing to ski safety and, in fact, are associated with high accident rates; (2) bindings that have more than two release modes (up at the heel laterally at the toe, roll about longitudinal axis, etc.) have lower accident rates than those with only two release modes; (3) cable bindings are categorically dangerous by every accident variable available; and (4) a significant sex by binding-type interaction exists that has important implications for both female skiers and binding designers.