It’s a no brainer: combat sports should be ground zero for research on concussion

The intention (to neutralise an opponent through head injury), exposure (the vulnerability of combat fighters to brain trauma) and reach (across all social strata) of combat sports justify that fighting must be the ground zero when it comes to sports concussion research. Intention Strikes directly t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of sports medicine 2021-12, Vol.55 (24), p.1434-1435
Main Authors: Follmer, Bruno, Zehr, E Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Athletic Injuries
Boxing
brain
Brain Concussion
Brain research
Combat sports
Concussion
Discussion
exercise
Football
Head injuries
Humans
Kickboxing
Martial arts
Rugby
Sports
Sports Medicine
Trauma
Traumatic brain injury
wounds and injuries
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Summary:The intention (to neutralise an opponent through head injury), exposure (the vulnerability of combat fighters to brain trauma) and reach (across all social strata) of combat sports justify that fighting must be the ground zero when it comes to sports concussion research. Intention Strikes directly to the head are intentional and critical to success in combat sports like Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing and MMA.1 Unlike other sports, fighting often does not obey the mandatory immediate removal of the player when signs of concussion are observed (ie, recognise and remove).4 6 This allows a brain-injured fighter to receive extra head impacts, from the opponent or the canvas flooring, despite the observation of typical concussion signs (eg, lying motionless, no protective action and vacant look).4 Motor incoordination, disorientation and symptoms such as dizziness and poor balance may be subtle and insufficient to determine the end of a fight, exposing the combatant to further damage, including life-threatening injuries such as subdural haemorrhage. Weight categories for both sexes allow the inclusion of diverse body types, influencing exposure to head trauma in competition.1 In addition to athletes, a myriad of practitioners, of all ages, seek the educational potential, values, discipline and health benefits associated with combat sports.
ISSN:0306-3674
1473-0480
DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2021-104519