Downhill skiing will be a featured sport in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan next February.
Skiers are unique athletes who suffer from a variety of injuries throughout their careers.
Fortunately, there have been numerous innovations in both the prevention and treatment of sports injuries related to this dangerous sport, some of which are discussed in this paper. Dramatic changes have occurred in the equipment as well. Ski boots have evolved from soft leather cut boots to mid-calf plastic boots that rigidly support from the lower leg and ankle. Advancements in binding design continue to reduce the number of lower extremity injuries. Falls are an obvious cause of injuries, accounting for approximately 75 to 85 percent of skiing injuries.