[Snowboarding accidents]

Abstract

The present review summarises the related literature of the last ten years with request to snowboarding accidents. Sport accident statistics of snowboarding show high and increasing numbers of injuries. Already snowboarding ranks third of all sport accidents in Switzerland. According to the literature the injury risk in snowboarding is twice that of skiing, although the injuries are less serious. About 50% of the injured snowboarders are beginners. Beginners have a higher risk of injury than more advanced snowboarders. Additionally, and a relative large part of them are injured the first day of their snowboard career. The pattern of injury has changed over the last years. Today, injuries to the lower extremities account no longer for more than 50% but are now decreased to about 25%. Nowadays, wrist, knee, ankle, and shoulder are the most frequently injured body parts. It is the authors opinion that with up-to-date protectors, release bindings, and training of falling techniques the numbers and seriousness of injuries could be reduced, in particular injuries to the wrist and ankle.