Prevalence of Injuries during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Martial Arts Research
• Injury Epidemiology

Background:

• Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art emphasizing close-contact techniques.
• Understanding injury patterns in BJJ is crucial for athlete safety and injury prevention strategies.
• Previous research on BJJ injuries is limited, necessitating further investigation into prevalence and types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and common locations of injuries sustained during Brazilian jiu-jitsu training.
• To differentiate between medically diagnosed and self-diagnosed injuries.
• To compare injury characteristics between upper and lower extremities.

Main Methods:

• A 27-question research survey was distributed electronically to 166 Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms across the United States.
• Data collected included participant demographics, belt level, training frequency, competition experience, and injury details.
• Analysis focused on injury location, type (medically diagnosed vs. self-diagnosed), and extremity distribution.

Main Results:

• The most common injury sites were the hand/fingers (70), foot/toes (52), and arm/elbow (51).
• Medically diagnosed conditions included skin infections (38) and knee injuries (26). Self-diagnosed injuries were most frequent in the hand/fingers (56) and arm/elbow (40).
• Athletes reported more distal than proximal injuries, with upper extremity injuries being more frequent but less severe than lower extremity injuries.

Conclusions:

• Brazilian jiu-jitsu training is associated with a high prevalence of injuries, predominantly affecting the extremities.
• Distal injuries and upper extremity complaints are common, while lower extremity injuries, though less frequent, may be more severe.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted injury prevention and management strategies in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.