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Some the scientific research that has been conducted on martial art related subjects

The hands of karate experts

A. Crosby
British Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol 19, Issue 1 41-42

The hands and wrists of 22 karate instructors who had practiced the sport for a minimum of five years were reviewed. Radiological evidence of a total of ten fractures was found.

Conclusions. There was no evidence that practice of the sport predisposed to the early onset of chronic tenosynovitis or osteoarthritis.

Adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity as predictors of adult tension neck, low back pain, and knee injury: a 25 year follow up study

L. Mikkelsson, H, Nupponen, J, Kaprio, H, Kautiainen, M, Mikkelsso , and U. Kujala
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2006; 0:107-113

This study examined whether adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity can predict the later occurrence of recurrent low back pain, tension neck, or knee injury.

In 1976, 520 men and 605 women participated in a sit and reach test (flexibility) and a 30-second sit up test (endurance strength). In 1976 and 2001, they completed a questionnaire. Lifetime occurrence and risk of self reported low back pain and self reported, physician diagnosed tension neck and knee injury were calculated for subjects.

Men with the highest flexibility were at lower risk of tension neck than those with the lowest. Women with the highest endurance strength were at lower risk of tension neck than those with the lowest. Men with the highest endurance strength were at higher risk of knee injury than those from the lowest. Men who at school age participated in physical activity were at lower risk of recurrent low back pain than those who did not.

Conclusions. Overall good flexibility in boys and good endurance strength in girls may contribute to a decreased risk of tension neck. High endurance strength in boys may indicate an increased risk of knee injury.

Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles

M. Zetaruk, M. Violán, D. Zurakowski. and L. Micheli
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2005; 39:29-33

This study compared five martial arts with respect to injury outcomes. A one year retrospective cohort was studied using an injury survey. Data on 263 martial arts participants (114 from Shotokan karate, 47 from Aikido, 49 from Taekwondo, 39 from Kung fu, and 14 from Tai chi) were analyzed using age, sex, training frequency, experience, and martial art style. Outcome measures were injuries requiring time off from training, major injuries, multiple injuries, body region, and type of injury.

The rate of injuries, expressed as percentage of participants sustaining an injury that required time off training a year, varied according to style: 59% for Taekwondo, 51% for Aikido, 38% for Kung fu, 30% for karate, and 14% for Tai chi. There was a threefold increased risk of injury and multiple injury in Taekwondo than karate. Subjects ≥18 years of age were at greater risk of injury than younger ones. Martial artists with at least three years experience were twice as likely to sustain injury than less experienced students. Training >3 hours/week was also a significant predictor of injury. Compared with karate, the risks of head/neck injury, upper extremity injury, and soft tissue injury were all higher in aikido, and the risks of head/neck, groin, and upper and lower extremity injuries were higher in Taekwondo. No sex differences were found for any of the outcomes studied.

Conclusions. There is a higher rate of injury Taekwondo than Shotokan karate. Different martial arts have significantly different types and distribution of injuries. Martial arts appear to be safe for young athletes, particularly those at beginner or intermediate levels.

Injury and injury rates in Muay Thai kick boxing

S. Gartland, M. Malik. and M. Lovell
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2001; 35:308-313

This study sought to determine the type and number of injuries that occur during the training and practice of Muay Thai kick boxing and to compare the data obtained with those from previous studies of karate and Taekwondo.

A total of 152 people were questioned, 132 men and 20 women. There were 19 beginners, 82 amateurs, and 51 professionals. Injuries to the lower extremities were the most common in all groups. Head injuries were the second most common in professionals and amateurs. Trunk injuries were the next most common in beginners. The difference in injury distribution among the three groups was significant. Soft tissue trauma was the most common type of injury in the three groups. Fractures were the second most common in professionals, and in amateurs and beginners it was sprains and strains. Annual injury rates were: beginners, 13.5/1000 participants; amateurs, 2.43/1000 participants; professionals, 2.79/1000 participants. For beginners, 7% of injuries resulted in seven or more days off training; for amateurs and professionals, these values were 4% and 5.8% respectively.

Conclusions. The results are similar to those found for karate and Taekwondo with regard to injury distribution, type, and rate. The percentage of injuries resulting in time off training is less.

Fitness levels of middle aged martial art practitioners

P. Douris, A. Chinan, M. Gomez, A. Aw, D. Steffens, and S. Weiss
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2004; 38:143-147

This study sought to quantify and compare fitness levels of middle^-aged practitioners of soo bahk do (SBD), a Korean martial art similar to Taekwondo with those of sedentary subjects.

Eighteen volunteers, 14 men and four women (aged 40–60 years), participated. Nine sedentary subjects (mean age 46.7 years) and nine SBD practitioners (mean age 46.8 years) were matched for sex and age. All subjects participated in a one-day battery of fitness tests. The following dependent variables were tested: body composition, balance, flexibility, quadriceps strength, grip strength, muscle endurance, and aerobic capacity.

Body composition (% body fat) for the SBD group was 18.9% v 30.8% for the sedentary group. The SBD group was able to balance for 61.8 seconds v 26.2 seconds for the sedentary group. The result for the sit and reach flexibility test was 22.3 cm for the SBD group v 10.4 cm for the sedentary group. The number of push ups performed in one minute was 47.0 for the SBD group v 18.6 for the sedentary group, and the number of sit-ups performed was 66.1 for the SBD group and 37.3 for the sedentary group. Aerobic capacity was 41.0 ml/kg/min versus 31.1 ml/kg/min for the sedentary group. Quadriceps strength was 99.5% (peak torque/body weight) versus 83.0% for the sedentary group. Only grip strength was not significantly different.

Conclusions. There were significant differences between the groups for most of the physical fitness tests. The SBD practitioners displayed greater aerobic capacity, balance, flexibility, muscle endurance, and strength, and less body fat than the sedentary controls matched for age and sex. SBD can be considered an excellent form of exercise for the promotion of fitness in adults. Health professionals should be aware that there are alternative methods to traditional exercise that can increase the physical fitness and health of the middle-aged population.

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