Category: Safety Studies

Study – Steroid Use Linked to Worse Traumatic Brain Injury

January 26, 2016

An important study was recently published in the open access journal, PLOS ONE, analyzing the relationship between the severity of traumatic brain injury and anabolic steroid use. In the Study, titled “Chronic Exposure to Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids Exacerbates Axonal Injury and Microgliosis in the CHIMERA Mouse Model of Repetitive Concussion” the authors noted that in about … More Study – Steroid Use Linked to Worse Traumatic Brain Injury

39% Kickboxing Injury Rate Revealed in 15 Year NSAC Record Review

November 17, 2015

Note – The below findings likely exclude concussions which appear to be “significantly underreported” with the authors noting that 40% of contests end in KO/TKO and concussions are likely in many of these bouts.  In other words, the study finds there is a 39% reported injury rate in kickboxing bouts in addition to the likely … More 39% Kickboxing Injury Rate Revealed in 15 Year NSAC Record Review

Study – Contact Sports “Greatest Risk Factor for CTE Pathology”

November 9, 2015

Update December 2, 2015 – The full study can be found here – CTE in Amateur Athletes Study  The Mayo Clinic has uploaded the following useful video summarizing this study –   _____________________________ Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder related to repetative traumatic brain injury is perhaps one of the most troubling risks associated with … More Study – Contact Sports “Greatest Risk Factor for CTE Pathology”

British Journal of Sports Medicine – Add Hydration Requirement to MMA

October 16, 2015

There are many documented cases of injury in MMA due to the profound dehydration that comes with rapid extreme weight cutting.  Perhaps the most dangerous risk is that of increased brain trauma and death that comes from being exposed to strikes while not being fully hydrated.  As this industry wide practice is becoming better recognized … More British Journal of Sports Medicine – Add Hydration Requirement to MMA

Study Links Increased Risk of Brain Trauma in MMA to Fighter Age and Time Between Bouts

October 13, 2015

In my ongoing effort to highlight safety studies addressing combative sports, a thesis paper was recently published by the University of Ottawa’s Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences reviewing factors associated with head trauma in professional MMA. The author analysed data from Fightmetric reviewing 7,134 rounds in the UFC, WEC and Strikeforce from 2004 – 2014. … More Study Links Increased Risk of Brain Trauma in MMA to Fighter Age and Time Between Bouts

Study Suggests Use of “Padded” Hand Wraps to Reduce Brain Trauma In Sparring

October 6, 2015

Given that CTE is being linked to duration and severity of contact and further that the KO rate by punches in MMA increased tenfold after gloves with conventional wraps became the norm in the sport, should MMA and other striking sport athletes use ‘padded’ hand wraps to reduce brain trauma while sparring?  An article published … More Study Suggests Use of “Padded” Hand Wraps to Reduce Brain Trauma In Sparring

Study – Mileage is One of Biggest Factors for Brain Trauma in Boxing

October 5, 2015

In the latest article addressing injury issues in combative sports, a study was published last month in the Journal of Neurotrauma studying cognitive impairment from boxing. The study, titled Chronic Effects of Boxing: DTI and Cognitive Findings, used Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging to study brain trauma among 10 boxers (9 active and 2 … More Study – Mileage is One of Biggest Factors for Brain Trauma in Boxing

Study – MMA Has Greatest Injury Rate Among Combat Sports

September 20, 2015

One of the latest safety studies addressing combat sports, published last month in the journal Australasian Epidemiologist, the author compiled data from a total of 47 observational studies addressing injuries in combat sports.  Specifically the author looked for the injury incidence rate, injury patterns and injury severity rates in 6 different sports, namely boxing, judo, karate, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, … More Study – MMA Has Greatest Injury Rate Among Combat Sports

Study Suggests Headguards Reduce Concussions in Combat Sports

September 18, 2015

Adding to this site’s archived safety studies in combat sports, a study was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggesting headguards can reduce concussions in combat sports. The authors, McIntosh and Patton, recently authored another article suggesting the quality of headguards can make a significant difference in effectiveness, noted in the new … More Study Suggests Headguards Reduce Concussions in Combat Sports

MMA Results In More Overall Injuries Than Boxing but Less Brain Trauma Study Reports

September 5, 2015

Adding to this site’s archives canvassing safety studies in combat sports, a study was recently published in The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine comparing boxing and MMA injury rates over a 13 year period. The study, titled Combative Sports Injuries: An Edmonton Retrospective, reviewed post fight medical exams for combat sports bouts in Edmonton from … More MMA Results In More Overall Injuries Than Boxing but Less Brain Trauma Study Reports