抄録
A survey of 228 snowboarders was undertaken to determine the population at risk, and types and mechanism of injuries sustained in this sport. The data for this study were collected from "excellent" or "above average" snowboarders who participated in the All Japan Snowboard Meeting in Nagano prefecture in March, 1996. The average age of this sample was 22.6years, their average experience was 4.51years, and the majority of them (81.1%) adopted the normal standing position; the so-called regular stance. Of the 228 snowboarders, 100(43.9%) were recognized in their snowboarding skills of one sort or another by the Japan Snowboard Association(JSBA). The remaining snowboarders had not been awarded a JSBA qualification. It was desirable to make the qualifying skills test more widely accessible. Among the total of 376 injuries documented, the mean occurrence was 1.7 injuries for each person, while 33 subjects (14.5%) had never been injured. The lowest injury rate (5.3%) was in the first year, while the highest rate (75.0%) was between second and fifth years of snowboarding. The injury rate was equal for the upper and lower body. Most injuries were sustained in the limbs, arms, shoulders and elbows, leg, knees and ankles. Trunk injuries were concentrated in the neck and chest. Sprains (36.7%), contusions (19.4%) and fractures (18.6%) were the most frequent types of sympotoms. Differences in injuries when comparing the regular stance with the goofy stance were noted; the regular stance tended to result in injuries to the left leg and arm(front limbs). However, the injuries did not always occur in the front limbs. Therefore, it was desirable for a supporting gear to be worn on the front leg and support pads on the front arm and back leg. The materials and shaping techniques for snowboarding boots and binding devices need to be developed by taking into consideration the differences in stance.
