Ten-year patterns of emergent concussion injuries among various martial arts disciplines

Martial arts participation appears to be increasing in the US, and along with benefits to health and wellbeing, the sport carries musculoskeletal and neurological injury risks which differ among disciplines. Evidence is limited regarding the burden of concussion injuries in many martial arts disciplines, particularly among female athletes and outside of competitions. The purposes were: 1) to characterize injury patterns over 2013-2022 for concussion injuries treated in emergency departments (ED) related to martial arts; and 2) to compare the number of concussions by mechanism, circumstance, sex and martial art discipline.

This was a retrospective, epidemiological study of National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data from patients who sought ED care for martial arts-related concussions (N = 581; 29.1 % female). Annual concussion case numbers compared over time and by sex using linear regression. Concussion case numbers were compared by major discipline (Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Mixed martial arts [MMA], kickboxing, Judo, and other forms) and sex. Mechanisms (fall, kicked, tackled/thrown, punched-hit-struck, weapon, unspecified) and circumstances (practice, competition) were compared by discipline and sex.

Regressions indicated that year or sex were significant contributors to annual concussion case numbers (both p>.05). The number of concussions was highest for Karate for males (p < .05). A greater proportion of cases occurred in males than females in MMA, Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, and other forms (p = .031). Falls and being punched-hit-struck were the most commonly-documented mechanisms of concussion (23 % and 20 %, respectively). For females, more concussions were incurred during competition for Judo and Taekwondo than in other disciplines (p = .002). For males, more concussions occurred in class/practice with Judo and Karate than in other disciplines (p = .018). 96.4 % of cases were treated and released, and 3.1 % were hospitalized.

Since 2020, the concussion burden in martial arts has grown, particularly among males, which may be related to overall greater participation in the sport, especially karate and other forms. Prospective injury surveillance, better uptake of safety gear and implementation of skills risk into routine sport participation that minimize head injury, and careful documentation of injury circumstance could help advance martial arts safety.