Luge, Bobsleigh, Skeleton

The Olympic Winter sliding sports include luge, bobsleigh, and skeleton. Collectively, these sports demonstrate a relatively high rate of injury among athletes competing in the Winter Olympic Games. Athletes are at risk of sustaining injury due to the icy track and high speeds achieved by the athletes during training and competition runs. Further, the severity of sustained injuries can range from simple bumps and bruises to catastrophic injuries involving vital organs including their head, neck, and spine. Physicians providing medical coverage for sliding sport events must be familiar with the common injuries they may encounter and have awareness for the inherent risks associated with each specific sport. Given that the provision of care may be required on an emergent basis, understanding the mechanisms of injury and the resources available for each event is critical to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of injury management. This chapter outlines the epidemiology, etiology, and treatment of common injuries associated with luge, bobsleigh, and skeleton with the goal of familiarizing physicians with the provision of care for the sliding sport athlete.