INTRODUCTION: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury occurs frequently in the sport of alpine ski racing comprising approximately 25% of all injuries. Female racers are 2 to 8 times more likely than males to rupture their ACL and often do not return to sport as quickly or with as much success as their male counterparts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of ski racers who sustained an ACL inJury and how these experiences were meaningful to their return to sport. The study used qualitative research methods and concepts of Hermeneutic Phenomenology to provide descriptions of these experiences. METHOD: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with three female alpine racers from Alberta, who ranged in age from 22 - 23 years (M age = 22.4 yr), were single, white and from middle class families. At the time of injury their participation level was: year two FIS (n=2) and year two National Team (n=1). Two out of three racers had meniscus damage and all sustained complete ACL and MCL ruptures. All had different diagnosing physicians and two participants had the same surgeon. Physiotherapy and athletic therapy was received from different clinics and therapists. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis of the transcripts revealed a total of 23 meaning units, which were then grouped into sub-themes and major themes. Five themes were identified which played a role in the athletes' experiences and return to skiing: 1) misdiagnosis and uncertainty- resulting in false hope and mistrust, 2) autonomy- taking responsibility and personal growth, 3) life-change- effect on present and future life, and coping through short-term goal setting, 4) relatedness- increased and decreased association, relationships with doctors and therapists, and 5) the love of skiing- re-affirmation and motivation to recover. DISCUSSION: Several qualitative studies on athlete rehabilitation describe the unsatisfactory treatment from medical personnel that some athlete's experience. Although these, athletes experienced misdiagnosis and uncertainty during diagnosis, they expressed satisfaction with their rehabilitation process. These same athletes did experience negative responses to life changes and similar to Granito findings (2001), they experienced a shift in everyday living due to decreased functioning and an absence from sport. An interesting finding was that these racers viewed surgery as preventative and therefore their future risk management, i.e. return to skiing, wasn't guided by a "bodily vulnerability." CONCLUSION: These findings provide a knowledge base for understanding the perspectives of female skiers and provide valuable reflections and discussions about ACL injury and returning to competitive alpine racing. A more complete understanding of how rehabilitation positively influences young female alpine racers return to sport will benefit both the medical community and those with ACL injuries. REFERENCES Barber-Westin SD, Noyes FR, Andrews M. (1997). A rigorous comparison between the sexes of results and complications after ACL reconstruction. AJSM. 25(4), 514-526. Gould D, Udry E. Bridges D & Beck L. (1997a). Stress sources encountered when rehabilitating from season-ending ski injuries. The Sport Psychologist, 11, 361-378. Granito Jr V. (2001). Athletic injury experience: a qualitative focus group approach. JSB, 24(1), 63-82.
© Copyright 2010 Book of Abstracts. 5th International Congress on Science and Skiing, Dec. 14 - 19, 2010, St. Christoph am Arlberg. Veröffentlicht von University of Salzburg, Interfakultärer Fachbereich Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.