Differences in injury distribution in professional and recreational snowboarding

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about the distribution of injuries in competitive snowboarding and there are no reports describing long-term complications of professional snowboarding. To examine the injury distribution and long-term impairments in active and retired professional snowboarders, a retrospective data analysis was performed using a questionnaire. As a control group, injuries of recreational snowboarders of a southern German university clinic were examined.

Methods: Retired and active snowboarders were identified from the result lists of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and from the current team lists of the German-speaking European national snowboard teams. After identification, a questionnaire regarding injury distribution/treatment was sent to the athletes and the filled-in questionnaires were subsequently evaluated. Injuries in recreational snowboarding were evaluated by analyzing the medical records and surgical reports for a seven-year period.

Results: Compared to the available literature, significantly more severe injuries that necessitated surgical treatment in recreational snowboarders were documented. Most injuries accounted for wrist fractures but also many nonunions and spinal fractures were recorded. Between active professionals, distinct differences in injury distribution were found. The number of days off differed greatly with less days in speed disciplines (35.5 days) and the maximum number of days off in snowboardcross (51 days). Injury distribution varied clearly with more injuries of the upper extremity and ankle in speed disciplines compared to snowboardcross and freestyle professionals, who exhibited more injuries to the lower extremity and head. Freestyle athletes used significantly less protectors compared to speed (P=0.01) and snowboardcross athletes (P=0.00). An analysis of retired professionals revealed a higher number of impairments in daily life and a significantly higher number of days off snowboarding (P=0.018).

Conclusion: Knowledge about snowboard-specific injuries is a requirement for an appropriate treatment of these patients. This first description of long-term impairments after professional snowboarding highlights the importance of the development of specific strategies to prevent daily life impairments after a professional sports career.

Keywords: injury-distribution; professional snowboarding; snowboarding.

Figure 1

Global injury-distribution in recreational snowboarders in % of all evaluated injuries at the university clinic of Ulm.

Figure 2

Most frequent injuries, of all evaluated snowboard injuries at the university clinic of Ulm, in total numbers. Abbreviation: AC, acromioclavicular.

Figure 3

Diagrams of the injury distribution of the 2012/2013 German-speaking national snowboard teams in percent. Notes: (A) global injury-distribution of all disciplines; (B–D) predominant injuries regarding the different snowboarding disciplines, in percent. Abbreviation: ACL, anterior cruciate ligament.

Figure 4

Most frequent injuries of all documented snowboard injuries for the 2013/2014 German-speaking national snowboard teams, in total numbers. Abbreviation: ACL, anterior cruciate ligament.

Figure 5

Diagrams of the injury distribution in retired snowboard professionals in percent. Notes: (A) global injury-distribution regarding body area; (B) predominantly injured joints, in percent.

Figure 6

Most frequent injuries of all documented snowboard injuries for retired professional snowboarders, in total numbers. Abbreviations: ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; MCP-UCL, metacarpo-phalangeal ulnar collateral ligament; AC, acromioclavicular.