Assessment Of Neurologic Function In Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Following A Single Competition

Abstract

Head strikes are legal and commonly used in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, putting MMA fighters at substantial risk for brain injury. Following a knockout (KO) or technical KO (TKO), fighters typically receive time-based medical suspensions that do not include objective determinations for safe return-to-play. Fighters who do not suffer a KO or TKO may not receive any medical suspensions, even though they may have incurred an undiagnosed concussion or subconcussive brain injury. PURPOSE: To determine if participating in a single MMA competition is associated with impaired neurologic function of MMA fighters. METHODS: Neurologic function of ten amateur and professional MMA fighters (9 men, 1 women; 26.1 ± 2.6 yr) was assessed before (61 ± 91.8 days; T1) and after (3.8 ± 1.3 days; T2) competition. Control participants (9 men, 1 women; 27.1 ± 2.7 yr) were assessed on two separate occasions, 38 ± 15.2 days apart (T1, T2). All participants were evaluated for static balance (Wii Balance Board; SB), dynamic balance (Y Balance Test; DB), eye movement speed and accuracy (King-Devick test; KD), near point of convergence (Vestibular / Ocular-Motor Screening; NC), hand-eye reaction time (FITLIGHT Trainer; RT), visuomotor ability (FITLIGHT Trainer, VM), and multiple object tracking speed (NeuroTracker, MOT). RESULTS: Two MMA participants lost their competition by KO/TKO (one due to strikes). DB, KD and NC improved significantly in control subjects relative to MMA fighters (β = -0.019, P = 0.005; β = 2.874, P = 0.039; and β = 5.662, P = 0.002, respectively). However, SB, RT and VM improved significantly in MMA fighters relative to control subjects (β = -1.042, P < 0.001; β = -0.017, P = 0.037; β = -0.062, P = 0.015, respectively). Changes in MOT between T1 and T2 were not significantly different between groups (β = 0.257, P = 0.285). CONCLUSION: MMA fighters had deficits in some assessments of neurologic function a few days after competition, yet they seemed to improve in other aspects. Measures of dynamic balance and eye function were impaired relative to control subjects, whereas static balance and reactive movement skills were improved in MMA fighters. Overall, it appears that some aspects of neurologic function may be more susceptible to impairment following MMA competition, though general abnormalities were not present.