Enhancing Return to Alpine Skiing: Integrating Perceptual-Motor-Cognitive Considerations in Testing and Progressions: A Clinical Commentary

Alpine skiing poses significant risks for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at both recreational and professional levels, which is compounded by high rates of re-injury. Despite the existence of return to sport (RTS) and return to snow protocols, the frequency of ACL re-injury has not been mit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Conor Smith, Dustin R. Grooms, Helen Bradley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North American Sports Medicine Institute 2024-07-01
Series:International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.120285
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Summary:Alpine skiing poses significant risks for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at both recreational and professional levels, which is compounded by high rates of re-injury. Despite the existence of return to sport (RTS) and return to snow protocols, the frequency of ACL re-injury has not been mitigated, raising doubts about protocol effectiveness. Current RTS protocols primarily focus on biomechanical and neuromuscular factors in isolation, neglecting the important perceptual-motor-cognitive changes associated with ACL injuries and the high cognitive demands of skiing. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to address the perceptual-motor-cognitive demands specific to alpine skiing, evaluate RTS testing for skiers, and propose updated standards for testing and return to snow progressions that incorporate these considerations. # Level of Evidence 5
ISSN:2159-2896