Injuries among judokas during competition

To investigate the type and severity of injury sustained during judo competitions, and to investigate any possible correlation between injury rate and gender, grade, weight category and rapid weight loss.

Three hundred and ninety-two judokas (284 males, 108 females) competed in three consecutive competitions. A judoka was "injured" if they requested medical treatment or could not continue. Following injury, a questionnaire was completed. Uninjured judokas were asked to complete a questionnaire at one competition to assess risk factors of injury. Follow-up was conducted 6 weeks after each competition.

Fifty-three out of 392 judokas (13.5%) (40 males, 13 females) sustained an injury. No difference was found between injury rates among males (41.3/1000 anthlete-exposures (A-E's)) and females (40.9/1000 A-E's), or between judokas of different weight groups or grades. Rapid weight loss of 5% or more of a judoka's body weight placed the athlete at a higher risk of injury (P=0.022). Most injuries affected the upper extremities. Injuries most often resulted from grip fighting, being thrown, or attempting to throw.

Judokas are advised not to lose weight before a competition as this increases the risk of injury. Neither grade, nor gender, or weight category are associated with an increase in injury rate.