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Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Competitive Adolescent Alpine Skiers

BACKGROUND: There is a high risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in alpine skiers. To reduce or try to prevent these injuries, intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors need to be identified. PURPOSE: To identify possible intrinsic and extrinsic ACL injury risk factors among competitive ado...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Westin, Maria, Harringe, Marita L., Engström, Björn, Alricsson, Marie, Werner, Suzanne
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5954346/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29780835
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2325967118766830
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: There is a high risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in alpine skiers. To reduce or try to prevent these injuries, intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors need to be identified. PURPOSE: To identify possible intrinsic and extrinsic ACL injury risk factors among competitive adolescent alpine skiers. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2009, a cohort of 339 alpine ski students (176 male, 163 female) from Swedish ski high schools were prospectively observed in terms of ACL injuries. First-time ACL injuries were recorded. In September, prior to each ski season, the skiers were clinically examined according to a specific knee protocol. RESULTS: Overall, 11 male and 14 female skiers sustained a total of 25 first-episode ACL injuries. The majority of injuries occurred in the left knee (P < .05). Skiers who had participated in alpine skiing for >13 years (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.68-1.00; P < .05) had a reduced risk of sustaining an ACL injury. Eighteen ACL injuries occurred during training, 12 in the technical discipline of giant slalom, and 8 in slalom. Fourteen skiers reported not to be fatigued at all at the time of injury, and 8 skiers reported that they were somewhat fatigued. CONCLUSION: ACL injuries occurred more often in the left knee than the right. This should be taken into consideration in the design of ACL injury prevention programs. Those who reported a higher number of active years in alpine skiing showed a reduced risk of sustaining an ACL injury. No other factor among those studied could be identified as an independent risk factor for ACL injury.