Abstract
OBJECTIVES: High-performance snow sports (HPSS) athletes compete in a performance-driven context with a high risk of injury. While there is a lack of evidence on effective prevention measures in snow sports, this study explored the perspectives and perceptions of HPSS stakeholders on sports injury prevention.
METHODS: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study based on the grounded theory principles through 11 semistructured interviews with athletes, coaches and healthcare providers from different national teams about sports injury prevention. The interviews were inductively analysed through constant comparative data analysis.
RESULTS: Participants defined risk management as a central concept in which they approached injury prevention by assessing, managing and sometimes accepting risks. Many factors, such as athlete-related and external factors, are considered in this process, ultimately influencing their decision-making. Participants acknowledged the value of experience when managing and dealing with risks, a key aspect of their learning process and career development. Within this context, open and trustworthy communication and shared responsibilities among all stakeholders influenced and shaped injury prevention strategies and behaviours. Understanding and balancing out speed and risks was considered pivotal in their daily practice. Therefore, injury prevention awareness, ownership, communication, teamwork and shared responsibilities may contribute to the success of sports injury prevention in HPSS.
CONCLUSION: These findings substantiate the significance of such contextual factors in sports injury prevention. Considering the high-risk nature of HPSS, injury prevention suggests a shift towards risk management strategies, with a strong emphasis on contextual factors and their interactions. Young athletes might benefit from educational interventions centred on developing skills to assess and manage risks.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | ip-2023-045084 |
| Pages (from-to) | 341-349 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Injury Prevention |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 9 Jan 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Jul 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the Government of Andorra from a predoctoral grant, ATC028 - AND - Year 2021. No other sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.