Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in combat sports practitioners

Abstract Study aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the type of combat sport and the degree of athletic proficiency on the specificity of musculoskeletal injuries suffered by Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts practitioners. Material and methods: The study involved 64 practitioners of two combat sports, MT (age 26.9 ± 8.1, experience 7.4 ± 5.8 years) or MMA (age 26.2 ± 6.4 years, experience 6.6 ± 4.1 years). The research was conducted using a Google Forms survey. Results: The groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) in terms of risk of injury (average 3.1 in MT, 2.6 in MMA). Injuries (mainly fractures 21% and 7% of practitioners) affected the lower limb (44% and 33% practitioners) and were significantly higher in MT, p < 0.05. There were significant (p < 0.05) correlations between training experience and the number of training hours per week compared to the frequency and severity of injuries in both groups. Conclusion: Injuries to athletes who mainly use striking techniques are more common in the lower limbs and they are more likely to be fractures. Longer training experience, more training hours and a higher level of athletic proficiency significantly increase the risk of injuries and their severity among people practicing both types of combat sports.