Effects of Counter-rotation Position on Knee/Hip Angulation, Center of Mass Inclination, and Edging Angle in Simulated Alpine Skiing

Objective: To investigate rotation movement of segment for performing each position and its effect on knee/hip angulation, COM inclination, and edging angle changes. Method: Twelve Alpine skiers (age: $25.8{\pm}4.8years$, height: $173.8{\pm}5.9cm$, weight: $71.4{\pm}7.4kg$, length of career: $9.9{\pm}4.6years$) participated in this study. Each skier was asked to perform counter-rotation, neutral, and rotation positions. Results: Shank and thigh were less rotated in the counter-rotation position than in other positions, whereas the trunk and pelvis were more counter-rotated (p<.05). Hip angulation, COM inclination, and edging angle were significantly greater in the counter-rotation position than in other positions (p<.05). Conclusion: Our finding proved that the counter-rotation position increases hip angulation, COM inclination, and edging angle. Consequently, we suggest that skiers should perform counter-rotation of the trunk and pelvis relative to the ski direction in the vertical axis for the counter-rotation position. Further analysis will continue to investigate the effects of the counter-rotation position in real ski slope with kinetic analysis.