MARTIAL ARTS

Practicing martial arts disciplines is a high-impact activity during which participants are susceptible to a variety of orthopaedic injuries. The injury rate is comparable to that of other high impact sports, such as football and rugby. Sprains and strains are common, as are fractures and contusions of soft tissue and of bone.

Improper technique is often the cause of these injuries. When striking an object (opponent, punching bag, pad or board) with great force, the entire body must be in alignment, especially the arm. This means connecting with the correct part of the hand, keeping the wrist straight and the elbow close, so that the force of the impact can be absorbed by the body.

“Boxer’s fracture,” a fracture of one of the long bones that runs across the top of the hand, is the most common martial arts injury of the hand. Fractures and strains of the wrist, often seen with beginners who aren’t used to the impact of punching an opponent or a heavy training bag, are also common.

Similar injuries include tendinitis, the result of repetitive punching motions, and the jamming of joints, mainly fingers, that happens when punching improperly or having your strike blocked by an opponent. Also, sprains and hyperextensions can occur during joint manipulation or “lock” holds used in judo and wrestling.

Soft tissue injures should be treated with rest, ice and the elevation of the affected area. Injuries to bone surface areas may not display any of the usual visual symptoms such as discoloration or swelling, but noticeable pain may be the result of small fractures in the bone’s outer layers. These injuries, as well as serious injuries to soft tissue, may require weeks of treatment to heal and medical advice should be sought immediately.

If small fractures or seemingly minor injuries are not treated quickly and appropriately, the possibility exists in later life of developing osteoarthritis or other bone and joint diseases that could lead to severe disability in the affected area.