Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

Intoduction

Research teams from the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center interviewed 866 World Cup athletes regarding injuries sustained during the 2006-2007 season. The interviews covered all World Cup athletes from nine nations, and included all the FIS Olympic disciplines: Alpine, Freestyle, and Cross Country Skiing, Snowboard, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.

The athletes were interviewed at eight different events in Europe and the United States. They were asked if they had had any acute injuries this season and about the circumstances surrounding each injury, severity of injury (information of how long the athletes were out of competition or training), as well as specific diagnosis of each injury. Team coaches and physiotherapists were also interviewed regarding season-ending injuries for athletes not completing the season.

The research teams were met with great interest and willingness to contribute information by the athletes, coaches, event organizers and other support staff. The interviews are part of a validation study for the FIS Injury Surveillance System (ISS). The FIS ISS was established in 2006 by the International Ski Federation in cooperation with Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, and with financial support from djo. The objective is to record and analyze injuries sustained by elite skiers and snowboarders and use this information to reduce the risk of injuries in the future. The preliminary results will be presented to the FIS Medical Commission at the FIS Congress in Portoroz in May, and more detailed reports on the injury pattern in each of the disciplines will be presented to all the relevant FIS commissions at their September meetings in Zurich (SUI).