Article Text
Abstract
Objectives Cross-country (CC) skiing consists of two main techniques: classic and skating. Hip motion during the skating technique is similar to that in ice skating and is considered a risk factor for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in ice hockey players. We aimed to compare the presence of CAM-type FAI in a cohort of elite junior CC (EJCC) skiers with a control group of non-athlete (NA) high school students.
Methods Observational cohort study: EJCC skiers and NAs were recruited from a sports school and a regular high school, respectively. Baseline demographics and training history were obtained via a questionnaire. Bilateral hip MRI was performed and the alpha angle was measured in three planes. CAM deformity was defined as an alpha angle>55° on at least two MRI planes per hip.
Results A total of 20 EJCC skiers and 10 NAs participated. All participants were male, aged 16–19 years. Average training volume was 528.10±68.34 hours per year for the EJCC skiers compared with 153.50±57.09 for the NAs (p<0.001). The prevalence of CAM deformity in at least one hip on MRI was 50% in both groups (10 CC skiers and 5 NAs). The average alpha angles were 52.4±6.1° in the EJCC group and 52.5±4.9° in the NA group (p=0.94).
Conclusion Radiographic evidence of CAM-type FAI was not more common in the CC skiers compared with NAs. The type, rather than volume or intensity of training, maybe a more important risk factor for the development of CAM-type FAI in young athletes.
- FAI
- femoroacetabular impingement
- CAM
- cross-country
- athlete
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Footnotes
Contributors SAS and LE contributed to project planning. SAS, EA and LE contributed to data collection. SAS, KM and LE contributed to the manuscript preparations and data analysis. LE is responsible for the overall content as the guarantor.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Disclaimer The authors have no personal financial or institutional interest in any of the drugs, materials or devices described in this manuscript.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient and public involvement statement Patients were not involved in the design, recruitment, or execution of this study.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Ethics approval The regional health research ethics board granted approval (date: 20 December 2016, No. 2016/1937).
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement Data are available on reasonable request.