Factors associated with self-reported failure of binding to release among recreational skiers

An epidemiological study

Abstract

Female recreational skiers have twice the knee injury incidence of male skiers and the reported proportion of failure of binding release is considerably higher among females. It remains unclear whether this sex difference belongs only to an injury of the knee joint or also to other body parts. Therefore, a total of 1369 injured skiers (43.1% females) were interviewed on sex, age, date of last binding adjustment, skill level, risk taking behaviour and injured body part and binding release at the moment of accident.

Failure of binding release was reported within 39.9% of all cases at the moment of the accident. An actual binding adjustment was significantly associated with a decreasing proportion of failure of binding release. Failure of binding release was significantly higher for females compared to males (51 vs. 32%) and for cautious compared to risky skiers (42 vs. 33%) while sexes did not differ regarding the date of the last binding adjustment. Regarding knee injuries, female skiers showed a higher proportion of failure of binding release compared to male skiers (61 vs. 46%) with an OR of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.8). 

In conclusion, failure of binding release was significantly more frequent in females compared to males, irrespective of the injured body part although sexes did not differ with regard to the date of the last binding adjustment.