As for the Alpine skiing characteristics, lower limb injures were thought to be predominant. However, in our previous study, we have reported head, neck, and oro-facial injuries were more common than upper and lower limb injuries. Further, the incidence of the head, neck, and oro-facial injuries in GS(Giant Slalom) was significantly bigger than that in SL(Slalom). The incidence of men's oral injury in SL was bigger than women's. The incidence of women's neck injury in GS was bigger than men. And around 25 % skier experienced a concussion. At a higher competition level, a skier seems to be required a faster speed and gruelling line related to injury incidence. The present study aims to clarify whether the competition leve linfluences on an injuries incidence.
A questionnaire survey was conducted in the 66th Inter High School Athletic Meeting(Alpine skiing competition). Four hundred forty participants joined the survey. We used SAJ points for evaluation of competition ability.
The collection rate was 358(81.4%). The high competition ability skiers showed bigger oral injury incidence in total SL and men's SL significantly(P<0.01). The high competition ability women skiers showed bigger neck injury incidence in GS significantly (P<0.01). The high competition ability skiers showed a higher incidence of concussion in both SL and GS.
The competition ability influences the head, neck and oro-facial injuries. A skiing area usually locates in a remote area of medical care. It is important to prevent and reduce injuries. It is thought that a mouthguard(MG) has protective efficacy against not only the oro-facial injury but also concussion and neck injuries. Therefore, it would be better alpine ski racers should wear the MG to reduce and prevent those injuries.
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