Abstract
As in any sport, there is an inherent risk of injury to practitioners of combative martial arts. Notwithstanding the potential for injury, there has not been a concerted effort to clearly elucidate the injury problem in full-contact combat sports. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the injury incidence, injury pattern, and injury severity in six popular and commonly practiced full-contact combat sports. Data from a total of 47 observational studies suggest that there is a significant injury problem in full-contact combat sports generally. However, the injury incidence rates and injury patterns vary considerably across different styles, which most likely is a reflection of differences in competition rules. Very little is known about the actual severity of injuries in combat sports. Future studies are strongly encouraged to adopt stronger study methodologies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 14-18 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Australasian epidemiologist |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |