Evaluation of the incidence of limb injuries in martial arts using the example of MMA and Muaythai

Abstract

Introduction. Martial arts, including MMA and Muay Thai are considered to be high-risk disciplines due to the nature and specificity of the sports activity undertaken. The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of limb injuries in martial arts using the example of MMA and Muay Thai. Material and research method. The study covered a group of 66 individuals, including 38 (57.6%) MMA athletes and 28 (42.4%) Muay Thai practitioners. It was carried out in one of Krakow's martial arts clubs in 2016, based on a self-constructed survey questionnaire. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and the Statistica software version 10.0 PL. Results. Among the persons surveyed, 67% suffered an upper and/or lower limb injury. Injuries occurred both among the athletes with short training experience (1-3 years) and those who have trained for a longer period of time. The athletes with the shortest training experience (1- 3 years) were statistically more likely to suffer an injury. The number of injuries was significantly higher among Muay Thai athletes. The incidence of injuries was not significantly lower among the individuals who used protective equipment during training, or among recreational athletes. Injuries were more common among the individuals who trained with a sparring partner, including 24 MMA fighters (70.6%), and 10 Muay Thai athletes (55.5%). Conclusions. 1. Upper and lower limb injuries are a common problem among martial arts practitioners, especially among MMA athletes. 2. The athletes' weight category and age do not have any effect on the incidence of injuries among MMA and Muay Thai practitioners. 3. Injuries are considerably more common during contact exercises, both in MMA and in Muay Thai. 4. The incidence of injuries is equally high among the individuals who participate in sports competitions and in amateur athletes.