Injuries and overloads in combat sports exemplified by Thai boxing and judo

Abstract

Background: and study aim: Each sports activity, particularly combat sports, involves various injuries and overloads. Injuries are a result of impact of sudden large for ceson tissues, while overloads are caused by small but repetitive forces, which lead to some dysfunction, pain. The aim of this study was to compare injuries and overloads in two combat sports, namely judo and Thai boxing. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 34 judokas (from MaKo Judo Wrocław Sports Club) and 34 Thai boxers (from Puncher Wrocław Sports Club). The group of Thai boxers consisted of 29 men and 5 women, where as the judoka group was comprised of 23 men and 11 women. The average age of participants was 22.6 years. Internship competes patients was 3 years. The training period was similar for Thai boxers and judokas: Thai boxers trained on average for 8.5hper week, while judokas trained for 6.9h per week. Results: The study demonstrated that the most common injuries in Thai boxers occurred in lower limbs, while in judokas– in shoulder joints, knee joints and the spine. Thai boxers most frequently developed overloads in lower limbs, whereas judokas– in shoulder joints and the spine. Conclusions: Thai boxers considerably more frequently sustained injuries of feet, elbow joints and thighs, compared to judokas, who sustained more knee joint injuries. Judokas considerably more frequently suffered from injuries of shoulder joints and the spine compared to Thai boxers. Thai boxers more often developed overloads of lower limbs and elbow joints compared to judokas. On the other hand, judokas considerably more frequently sustained overloads of the spine and shoulder joints compared to Thai boxers.