Nordahl B.1,2, Sjöström R.3, Westin M.2,4, Werner S.4, Alricsson M.3
1School of Education, Psychology and Sport Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden, Kalmar, Sweden, 2Hela Kroppen Physiotherapy, Stockholm, Sweden, 3Mid Sweden University, Department of Health Sciences, Östersund, Sweden, 4Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Stockholm, Sweden
Background: Serious knee ligament injuries are the most common traumatic injuries at the Swedish ski high schools. (Westin et al 2012).
Purpose: To explore the experiences of alpine skiing at elite level after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews of two male and three female skiers covering questions about their experiences of returning to elite alpine skiing after an ACL injury and reconstruction, were performed through Skype (video communication). A manifest qualitative content analysis was carried out to describe the explicit substance in the transcribed text (Downe-Wambolt, 1992). The analysis was performed in five steps (Graneheim & Lundman, 2004).
Results: Seven categories were identified. The participants described their perceived opportunities with regard to return to alpine skiing after ACL injury and reconstruction as something positive to do with self belief, being mentally and physically prepared, regaining confidence in their own ability, being given time, and using active strategies. On the other hand, perceived barriers to a return to elite alpine skiing gave rise to negative feelings, for example fear, disheartenment, a total lack of or ambivalent confidence in their own ability and the use of passive strategies.
Conclusion(s): The male skiers returned to competitive alpine skiing. They reported confidence in their own ability, active strategies, and support on all levels as well as enhanced physical ability. The female skiers did not return to their pre-injury level of competitive alpine skiing. They stated lack of support on all levels, deterioration in their physical ability and two out of three reported passive strategies and no or ambivalent confidence in their own ability. The most important factors were family support, support on all levels, access to a physiotherapist and to be given time.
Implications: To support elite alpine skiers to return after ACL injury and ACL reconstruction.
Funding acknowledgements: No fundings
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval: Regional Ethical Review board Stockholm, Sweden as a part of an alpine prevention projekt at the Karolinska Institutet, Dnr 2006/833-31/1.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
