Do you have a concussion? There presently is no objective diagnostic test to answer this question. Generally the question is answered through a series of subjective symptoms. This could all change with a non-invasive diagnostic test just reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The new study notes that through a simple saliva sample … More Groundbreaking Concussion Test Could Be Gamechanger For Combat Sports

Rapid Extreme Weight Cutting is a prevalent occurrence in mixed martial arts with many injuries and even deaths tied to the practice. The practice is employed with fighters either hoping to gain a size advantage over their opponent, or given how common the practice has become, to prevent having a size disadvantage. A recent study … More Study – Average MMA Fighter Gains Over 8% Body Mass From Weigh Ins to Fight Time

Adding to this site’s database of combat sports health and safety studies, research was recently published in the Journal of The Physician and Sports Medicine addressing brain injury rates and risks of impairment from MMA. In the study, titled Head Injury in Mixed Martial Arts: a Review of Epidemiology, Affected Brain Structures and Risks of Cognitive … More Study – Risk of CTE From MMA “Should Not Be Underestimated”

In recent years concussion recovery advice has shifted from a model of strict physical and mental rest while symptoms persist to a more active model with activity being recommended so long as symptoms are not aggravated. A recent study was published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine reviewing the recovery of athletes who suffered and … More Study Shows Modern Concussion Treatment Strategies Lead to Faster Symptom Recovery

In 2016 the California State Athletic Commission spearheaded reforms to the culture of rapid extreme weight cuts in combat sports. One of the reforms created was an earlier weigh-in to “ensure healthy rehydration and penalize athletes who engage in extreme weight cutting” which was widely adopted by other regulators. Recently a study was published examining … More Study – Early MMA Weigh Ins “Exacerbated” Effects of Rapid Weight Cutting

An interesting study was published in the Journal of The Physician and Sports Medicine suggesting that in combat sports competition the first athlete to sustain a concussion in a bout will go on to lose 98% of the time. In the study, titled Concussion Occurrence And Recognition In Professional Boxing and MMA Matches, an 8 … More Study – First Fighter To Be Concussed Loses 98% of the Time

Bare Knuckle Boxing has enjoyed increased popularity in recent years with more North American jurisdictions legalizing the sport since Wyoming led the way as the first State to legalize BKB in 2018. Data was presented at this year’s Association of Ringside Physicians annual conference by Dr. Don Muzzi giving the first glimpse into the injury … More Data Reveals Bare Knuckle Boxing Has Lower Concussion Rate than Gloved Fights

Adding to this site’s database of combat sports health and safety studies, research was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzing the injury rate among the Olympic combat sports. In the study, titled Injury incidence, severity and profile in Olympic combat sports: a comparative analysis of 7712 athlete exposures from three consecutive Olympic Games, the … More Study – Judo Has Highest Competition Injury Rate Among Olympic Combat Sports