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. 2014:2014:340272.
doi: 10.1155/2014/340272. Epub 2014 Sep 15.

Three-dimensional lower extremity joint loading in a carved ski and snowboard turn: a pilot study

Miriam Klous  1 , Erich Müller  2 , Hermann Schwameder  2
Affiliations

Three-dimensional lower extremity joint loading in a carved ski and snowboard turn: a pilot study

Miriam Klous et al. Comput Math Methods Med. 2014.

Abstract

A large number of injuries to the lower extremity occur in skiing and snowboarding. Due to the difficulty of collecting 3D kinematic and kinetic data with high accuracy, a possible relationship between injury statistic and joint loading has not been studied. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to compare ankle and knee joint loading at the steering leg between carved ski and snowboard turns. Kinetic data were collected using mobile force plates mounted under the toe and heel part of the binding on skies or snowboard (KISTLER). Kinematic data were collected with five synchronized, panning, tilting, and zooming cameras. An extended version of the Yeadon model was applied to calculate inertial properties of the segments. Ankle and knee joint forces and moments were calculated using inverse dynamic analysis. Results showed higher forces along the longitudinal axis in skiing and similar forces for skiing and snowboarding in anterior-posterior and mediolateral direction. Joint moments were consistently greater during a snowboard turn, but more fluctuations were observed in skiing. Hence, when comparing joint loading between carved ski and snowboard turns, one should differentiate between forces and moments, including the direction of forces and moments and the turn phase.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Course definition (a and c) and camera setup (b and d) for the ski turn (a and b) and snowboard turn (c and d) including gates (●), cameras (▲), and the part of the turn that is analyzed (in between the thick lines).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Definition of the local coordinate system (LCS) at the leg and the thigh of the steering leg in skiing (a) and snowboarding (b).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Average skidding angle β in a ski turn (black) and a front side snowboard turn (grey).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Time profiles of the net medial (−)/lateral (+) forces (a), net anterior (+)/posterior (−) forces (b), and net forces around the longitudinal axis (c) at the ankle joint for the steering leg in skiing (black) and snowboarding (grey).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Time profiles of the net flexion (+)/extension (−) moments (a), net adduction (+)/abduction (−) moments (b), and net internal (+)/external (−) moments (c) at the ankle joint for the steering leg in skiing (black) and snowboarding (grey).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Time profiles of the net medial/lateral forces (a), net anterior/posterior forces (b), and net forces around the longitudinal axis (c) at the knee joint for the steering leg in skiing (black) and snowboarding (grey).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Time profiles of the net flexion (+)/extension (−) moments (a), net adduction (+)/abduction (−) moments (b), and net internal (+)/external (−) moments (c) at the knee joint for the steering leg in skiing (black) and snowboarding (grey).
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