2017 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #2415

 

Low Risk Of Concussions In Top-Level Karate Competition

Rafael Arriaza-Loureda, MD, PhD, Perillo, Oleiros, La Coruña SPAIN
Dusana Cierna, PhD, Bratislava SLOVAKIA
Dave Inman, BSc (Hons) Osteopathy, Bath UNITED KINGDOM
Carlos Agrasar-Cruz, MD, PhD, La Coruña SPAIN
Miguel Garcia-Saavedra, PhD, A Coruña SPAIN
Benjamin Mirko Abarca, MD, Los Andes CHILE
Emilio Lopez-Vidriero, MD, PhD, Seville, Andalusia SPAIN
Patricia Regueiro, PhD Student, A Coruña SPAIN
Mercé Barrientos, PhD Student, A Coruña SPAIN

Instituto Medico Arriaza; HM Sports Traumatology Chair University of A Coruña, A Coruña, SPAIN

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary

Injuries in a total of 4,625 fights in four consecutive World Karate Championships (from 2008 to 2014) were prospectively recorded. The global risk of concussions was 0.43/1,000 AE, with a tendency for an increased risk for males and for competition without weight limits, not statistically significant with respect to females or individual competition

Abstract

Background

Although it is well known that injuries take place in combat sports, the true incidence of concussions is not clearly defined in the literature for karate competition.

Aim

Main purpose is to determine the incidence of concussions in top-level (World Karate Federation World Championships) karate competition.

Methods

Injuries in a total of 4,625 fights (2,916 in the male category and 1,709 in the female category), in four consecutive World Karate Championships (from 2008 to 2014) were prospectively registered. Concussions were identified and analyzed separately for frequency (rate per fight) and injury risk.

Results

A total of four concussions were diagnosed by the attending physicians after carrying on the athletes' examination. Globally, there was 1 concussion in every 1,156 fights, or 0.43/1,000 AE. In male athletes, the rate of concussion was 1/5,832 minutes of fighting, and in female athletes, it was 1/6,836 minutes. Odd Ratio is 0.57 (95% CI: 0.06-5.47; z=0.489; p=0.6249) and Risk Ratio is RR 1.478 (95%CI 0.271-8.072), p=0.528, representing a higher risk of definite concussions in males than in females, but not statistically significant. Neither in men nor in women there is a significantly higher risk of injury in team competition (no weight-limit) when compared to individual competition (held with strict weight limits for each category).

Conclusion

The risk of concussions in top level karate competition is low, with a tendency for an increased risk for males and for competition without weight limits, not statistically significant with respect to females or individual competition.