Characteristics of injuries in Polish elite Taekwondo athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Studies about the injury risk in Taekwondo (TKD) focused mainly on WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) style as an Olympic discipline, but not on ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) that differ in the manner of fighting. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic negatively affected people’s lives worldwide, including athletes. The aim of our study was to assess injury occurrence among TKD-ITF athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among Polish TKD-ITF elite athletes, competitors at national and international level, aged 14 years and over. The obtained information concerned the first year of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, during the most severe social restrictions. RESULTS: The data was collected from 119 ITF athletes: 59 men (50%) and 60 women (50%), mean age 19.4±7.7 years. Thirty-two respondents (27%) reported sport-related injury. The most common injury was joint sprain or dislocation, and lower limb as location. Independent risk factors of TKD-related injury were male sex (OR=3.38, P=0.023), number of prior injuries (OR 4.47, P<0.0001), and participation in competitions (OR=7.78, P<0.011). The majority of injured athletes reported long-lasting post-injury symptoms and recurrence of an injury in the same location. Moreover, post-COVID symptoms, such as rapid fatigue and chest pain were more often reported by athletes from the injury group.CONCLUSIONS: Taekwondo-ITF is associated with a significant prevalence of sport-related injuries. Additionally, Sars-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in the appearance of new factors which had a negative influence on the athletes’ health.