Epidemiology and associated injury risk factors in figure skating: A systematic review

Objectives

To identify and critically appraise the available evidence on injury epidemiology and risk factors in figure skating.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Eight electronic databases were searched from inception to 01 November 2023. Studies were included if they reported injury epidemiology and/or injury risk factors in figure skating. Non-English publications were excluded. Risk of Bias of included studies was assessed using the QUIPS tool (quality in prognostic factor studies).

Results

This systematic review identified twenty-nine studies (n = 4202 figure skaters), with an injury prevalence of 2.1 %–34 %. An injury incidence of 1.37 injuries/1000 total training hours was reported in one study (n = 8). Three significant intrinsic risk factors (older age, previous history of stress fracture and a higher body mass) and eight significant extrinsic risk factors (training more than 12 sessions per week, skipping meals, RED-s indicators, hamstring and quadriceps immobility, training rather than competing, increased time on-ice time and boot-foot length difference) were identified from individual studies. Age, as the most studied risk factor, requires careful interpretation due to study design limitations.

Limitations

Existing data lacks quality of evidence and current reported injury risk factors in figure skating should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions

High-quality research of injuries and injury risk factors in figure skating is scarce. The inconsistent reporting of injury data across the currently available literature due to variations in injury definition and data collection methods makes it difficult to compare and draw conclusions. A critical need exists for standardized research approaches to accurately determine the true burden of injury in this sport.