Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Martial arts participation is widespread globally.
• Understanding injury patterns across different styles is crucial for athlete safety.
• Previous research has not comprehensively compared injury outcomes across multiple martial arts disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare injury outcomes among five distinct martial arts styles.
• To identify risk factors associated with martial arts injuries.
• To analyze the types and body regions affected by injuries in different martial arts.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study involving 263 participants across five martial arts styles (Shotokan karate, aikido, tae kwon do, kung fu, tai chi).
• Data collected via an injury survey over one year, analyzing predictor variables like age, sex, training frequency, and experience.
• Logistic regression and Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Injury rates requiring time off training varied significantly by style: tae kwon do (59%), aikido (51%), kung fu (38%), karate (30%), and tai chi (14%).
• Tae kwon do demonstrated a threefold increased risk of injury and multiple injuries compared to karate.
• Older age (≥18 years), higher training frequency (>3 h/week), and more experience (≥3 years) were significant predictors of injury.

Conclusions:

• Tae kwon do exhibits a higher injury rate than Shotokan karate, with distinct injury types and distributions across styles.
• Martial arts appear safe for young athletes, particularly those at beginner or intermediate experience levels.
• Further research into injury prevention strategies tailored to specific martial arts styles is warranted.