Examining the occurrence and outcomes of concussion and mTBI in mixed martial arts athletes: a systematic review.

Introduction: Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a sport growing in popularity around the world. However, many individuals participate in the sport with little understanding of the potential short- and long-term consequences of injuries sustained while participating. Specifically, individuals are placed at a high risk of minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and concussive episodes as a result of head injuries incurred during training and competition.

Aims: The current review aimed to examine the literature surrounding the occurrence and outcomes of mTBI in MMA athletes to gain a better understanding of these consequences.

Methods: Twenty-five studies were identified within the current review, of which 14 examined occurrence of mTBI within the sport setting, and elevenidentified outcomes of injury.

Results: Overall, studies found that MMA athletes experienced mTBI and concussion to a greater extent than athletes in other sports. Deficits in memory, reaction time and processing speed were identified following occurrence of mTBI; however, several gaps in outcome measurement were identified within the current literature, including a lack of focus on speech and language outcomes.

Conclusion: Future research should examine a wider variety of outcomes to provide a clearer understanding of the consequences of participating in the sport.