Amateur Boxing and Risk of Chronic Brain Injury

Abstract

Questions over the safety of boxing continue to constitute a public health issue. Several British Medical Association working parties call for a complete ban on boxing, principally because of the risks of chronic brain injury incurred by participation. It is recognized that significant differences exist between amateur and professional boxing and that the evidence for brain injury in the amateur sport is less strong than for professional. PURPOSE: To present a systematic review of the evidence to date for chronic brain injury in amateur boxing. METHODS: Psychometric testing is considered the most sensitive measure of chronic traumatic brain encephalopathy (CTBE). A full literature search produced 14 papers with extractable psychometric data. All papers were critically appraised for the quality of evidence for the triage, assessment, investigation and early management of head injury in infants, children and adults. RESULTS:Table 1: Summaries of studies with psychometric testingCONCLUSIONS: The evidence as it stands to date for chronic brain injury in amateur boxing is weak.