Descriptions
FIS Injury Surveillance System (FIS ISS), established at the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC), has shown that one of three athletes in World Cup alpine skiing sustain an injury per season.
Approximately 30% of all injuries are serious injuries leading to long term absence from training and competition. Knee injuries, particular tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) represent a major problem.
To reduce the risk of these serious knee injuries, we have to know why and how the injuries occur. So far, the knowledge is limited.
The aim of this project is to describe in detail mechanisms of ACL tears in World Cup alpine skiing.
Methods
Videotape of ACL tears reported through the FIS ISS has been recorded from three seasons (2006-09). More than 20 injuries have been captured on video and will be visually and biomechanically analyzed. The injury cases will be visually analyzed by a group of experts, and an analysis form will be developed in order to describe in detail the mechanisms of ACL tears. This information will include an evaluation of the injury situation, skiing situation and body motion. In addition, injury cases and matched controls will be compared to distinguish between injury and no injury situations.
Joint kinematics of ACL tears will be estimated by using a model-based image-matching technique for three-dimensional reconstruction of human motion. By utilizing this technique, it is possible to estimate joint angles to the hip and knee. The method has been developed and validated at OSTRC.
Results from this project will provide a better understanding on why and how the ACL tears occur in World Cup alpine skiing. This is essential knowledge to reduce the risk of injury and improve skiing safety among the athletes.