Injuries in taekwando: systematic review. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, Roger E.; Thomas, Bennett C.; Vaska, Marcus M.
• Is Part Of: Physician and sportsmedicine. Volume 45:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 390
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Taekwondo -- martial arts -- wounds and injuries -- systematic review; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; Sports medicine; Sportgeneeskunde; Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2017.1369193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-3847

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : Assess rates/1000athletic encounters(AE) in Taekwondo of injuries/age/gender/type/location. Methods : Searches in 17 electronic, 7 grey-literature databases. Two researchers independently assessed Abstracts/titles and abstracted data. Risk-of-bias assessed with Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Rates/1000AE computed, weighted by study sizes. Results : Eighteen studies included 3 Olympic, 4 world, 1 European, 13 national, 10 provincial and one national school competition. Seventeen studies provided an injury definition and recorded injuries on forms. Rates are average rate/1000AE, weighted by study size. For ten studies which provided rates by gender, rate for males(n = 9, 286) was 58/1000AE and females(n = 3, 720) 52.7/1000AE. For six studies which provided data on injuries/1000minutes/exposure by gender rate for males(n = 6, 885) was 10.7/1000minutes/exposure and for females(n = 2, 539) 10.4. For two studies which provided data by age and gender, rate for males 11–13 years(n = 949) was 29.6, 14–17(n = 512) 53.1 and ≥18(n = 711) 40.7, and for females 11–13 years(n = 472) 30.5, 14–17(n = 338) 72 and ≥18(n = 240) 37.5. For eight studies which provided injury location rates by gender rate for all ages for males(n = 5, 856) for head/neck injuries was 13.3, torso 4.2, upper-extremity 9.4 and lower-extremity 21.7 and females(n = 2, 126) for head/neck injuries was 14.2, torso 3.1, upper-extremity 7.3 and lower-extremity 26.6. For nine studies which provided injury type rates by gender, rate for all ages for males(n = 7, 509) for abrasions/contusions/lacerations was 37.5, for sprains/strains 10.3 and fractures 5.9, and for females(n = 2, 852) for abrasions/contusions/lacerations 27.9, for sprains/strains 8.7 and fractures 3.8. For concussions for eight studies for males(n = 9, 078) rate was 13.3 and females(n = 3628) 11.4. The majority of injuries occurred to the lower extremities, and in defence (61%). Conclusions : There are published data on 20, 210 Taekweondo competitors. Only 8/18 studies reported prior injuries. Longitudinal studies are needed of injuries, ascertainment of causes, identify participants with higher rates, measure the results of preventive measures, rule change to exclude head kicks, and encourage non-contact Taekwondo especially for participants with high injury rates.