Salzburg Skiing for the Elderly Study: study design and intervention--health benefit of alpine skiing for elderly

The aim of this study was to monitor the long-term effects of skiing on the health-related parameters of older individuals. This paper describes the overall study design and the intervention phase. The study utilized a randomized control group design consisting of an intervention group (n=27; age: 67.5 ± 2.8 years) and a control group (n=20; age: 67.3 ± 4.4 years). Parameters of interest were measured during pre-, post- and retention-test sessions. The intervention phase lasted for 12 weeks, with an average of 28.5 days of guided skiing. Daily heart rate (HR) profiles and global positioning system data throughout the ski day were recorded. Perceived exertion levels as well as mood status of the subjects were recorded regularly. The intervention group completed an average of 4885 vertical meters of downhill skiing, with a total skiing distance of 40.5 km/day. In the skiing phase, the average physiological load was 72.4 ± 8.9% of HR(max) . The dimension "positive mood" referred to skiing (on scale of 0-10), with an average value of 7.6 ± 1.7 after skiing. The dimension of "negative mood" was much less pronounced, having a mean of 1.1 ± 1.5 after skiing. Two subjects suffered injuries while falling during skiing. The effects of the 12-week skiing intervention on the tested parameters will be reported in the following papers of this supplementum.