Ski Injury Research
A study is being done in Collaboration between Boise State University and Intermountain Orthopaedics about knee injuries suffered while skiing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the MRI findings of skiing related knee injuries, with a special interest in the ligaments and cartilage and bone bruising patterns associated with various types of falls. Recent studies have shown an association between bone bruising and serious knee injuries such as ACL tears. These bone contusions include compression injury to the cartilage and bone. It is believed that bone bruises can lead to degenerative arthritis. Another study by Boise State University showed that skiing bone contusion patterns are unique unto skiing.
This study will attempt to identify associations between the mechanism of injury, and the injured knee structures identified on MRI scans. These injuries and bone contusion patterns will be subsequently analyzed and cataloged. Although several different mechanisms of skiing knee injury have been observed, this study will look for different contusion patterns, to identify specific patterns associated with different age, gender, or activity groups.
We intend to use this research to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms of knee injury in skiers. This information will be useful in the development of new methods to train skiers during the off-season and may lead to changes in equipment design that reduce the risk of knee injury.
