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Review
. 2019 Jan 14:9:1924.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01924. eCollection 2018.

Potential Health Benefits From Downhill Skiing

Martin Burtscher  1 , Peter A Federolf  1 , Werner Nachbauer  1 , Martin Kopp  1
Affiliations
Review

Potential Health Benefits From Downhill Skiing

Martin Burtscher et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Objectives: Downhill skiing represents one of the most popular winter sports worldwide. Whereas a plethora of studies dealt with the risk of injury and death associated with downhill skiing, data on its favorable health effects are scarce. A more comprehensive overview on such effects might emerge from a multidisciplinary perspective. Methods: A literature search has been performed to identify original articles on downhill/alpine skiing interventions or questionnaire-based evaluation of skiing effects and the assessment of health effects (cardiorespiratory, neurophysiological, musculoskeletal, psycho-social). Results and Discussion: A total of 21 original articles dealing with potentially favorable health effects resulting from downhill skiing were included in this review. Results indicate that downhill skiing, especially when performed on a regular basis, may contribute to healthy aging by its association with a healthier life style including higher levels of physical activity. Several other mechanisms suggest further favorable health effects of downhill skiing in response to specific challenges and adaptations in the musculo-skeletal and postural control systems, to exposures to cold temperatures and intermittent hypoxia, and/or emotional and social benefits from outdoor recreation. However, reliable data corroborating these mechanisms is scarce.

Keywords: alpine skiing; biomechanics; cardiovascular; neurophysiology; psycho-social.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram for search and selection of the included studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Suggested main favorable effects of downhill skiing on health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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