Study – Fewer Neurological Problems Found in Boxers in Later 20th Century

September 17, 2024

An interesting study was published this month in the Archives of Neuropsychology breaking reviewing boxing brain trauma studies from the 20th century. In the study, titled Neurological Problems in Boxers during the 20th Century: a Review and Synthesis, the authors reviewed 45 articles addressing brain trauma in boxers published between 1928-1999. The goal was to … More Study – Fewer Neurological Problems Found in Boxers in Later 20th Century

UFC Apex to Host Inaugural “Battle Tag” Event

September 8, 2024

What is Battle Tag? Its the soon to be launched North American rebranding of a rapidly growing professional sport from India known as Kabaddi. Kabaddi is basically a team tag wresting elimination sport where “the objective of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a “raider”, to run into the … More UFC Apex to Host Inaugural “Battle Tag” Event

Study – MMA Fighters Show Evidence of Sub Concussive Harm Following Sparring

August 31, 2024

CTE is a disease of mileage and is caused by repeated exposure to sub concussive blows (brain rattling impacts that don’t produce symptoms of concussion). Many fighters take the vast majority of their sub concussive impacts in training as opposed to actual competition. This week a study was published showing that MMA fighters show evidence … More Study – MMA Fighters Show Evidence of Sub Concussive Harm Following Sparring

Study Calls For Better Brain Health Education for MMA Athletes and Coaches

August 6, 2024

One fairly consistent theme in research about brain injury in MMA is the need for better education about brain health basics in the community. This month another study was published calling for such steps to be taken. In the recent study, titled “Assessing the Incidence of Head Trauma in Australian Mixed Martial Arts: A Retrospective … More Study Calls For Better Brain Health Education for MMA Athletes and Coaches

Ontario Proposes Brain Health Education As Part Of Fighter Licencing

August 2, 2024

Last year the Athlete’s Voice Committee asked all Athletic Commissions to share brain health education materials as part of licencing. The Ali Act actually tells commissions to do so. Few do. But it appears ongoing advocacy is working and commissions are starting to listen. Ontario is in the process of overhauling how combat sports are … More Ontario Proposes Brain Health Education As Part Of Fighter Licencing

Study – White Matter Signal Abnormalities in Brain “Significantly Greater” In MMA Fighters With Football or Rugby History

July 20, 2024

An interesting study was published this week in the peer reviewed journal The Physician and Sports Medicine looking at white matter signal abnormalities in a group of professional fighters. White matter signal abnormalities are associated with traumatic brain injury. Previous research of MMA athletes did not find greater white matter abnormalities in them compared to … More Study – White Matter Signal Abnormalities in Brain “Significantly Greater” In MMA Fighters With Football or Rugby History

Another Study Showing Relative Safety of Strangulation in BJJ

July 16, 2024

There are a growing number of studies showing it is relatively safe to be strangled in the sporting context of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This week another study was published on this topic looking specifically into whether participant showed measurable cognitive decline after a strangulation submission vs a non strangulation submission. The short answer was they … More Another Study Showing Relative Safety of Strangulation in BJJ

Study – Some Headgear Substantially Increases Rotational Acceleration To Its Users

July 6, 2024

Headgear does little to protect users from brain injury. According to the Association of Ringside Physicians “Headguards should not be relied upon to reduce the risk of concussion or other traumatic brain injury. They have not been shown to prevent these types of injuries in combat sports or other sports” Adding to this conclusion a study … More Study – Some Headgear Substantially Increases Rotational Acceleration To Its Users

Ringside Doctors – Don’t Fight High But Cannabis Drug Testing Also Divorced From Reality

July 5, 2024

Earlier this year the Association of Ringside Physicians released a position statement on cannabis in combat sports. This week the position was published in the peer reviewed journal The Physician and Sports Medicine. In short the doctors say that fighters should not compete while high. After the fact drug testing does nothing to address this … More Ringside Doctors – Don’t Fight High But Cannabis Drug Testing Also Divorced From Reality