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The number of skiers and snowboarders suffering head and spinal cord injuries is on the rise internationally - probably the result of greater risk-taking on the slopes, say researchers.
In a review of data on these injuries from 10 countries, Canadian researchers found increasing rates of brain and spinal cord injuries among skiers and snowboarders between 1990 and 2004.
These injuries account for a relatively small proportion of all injuries on the slopes; head trauma constitutes anywhere from 3 per cent to 15 per cent of all injuries, depending on the study, while spinal cord trauma accounts for 2 per cent to 4 per cent of injuries. Still, these injuries can be devastating or even fatal, the researchers note in a report published in the journal Injury Prevention.
They say their findings highlight the need for better prevention efforts - particularly when it comes to young male snowboarders, who appear to be at greatest risk of fatal head injuries.
A key step is to always wear a helmet, says Dr Charles Tator of the University of Toronto. "Even those highly skilled can lose control."
- Reuters
