Epidemiology of head, neck and torso injuries in taekwondo, karate and judo

Sport injury is a matter of concern for both athletes and coaches. Due to a public tendency for martial arts and its traumatic nature, prevalence for injury is high in such sports. The aim of the present study was to review the epidemiology of high prevalent injuries in taekwondo, karate and judo. Searching in specific scientific citations was carried out for relevant articles with the subject coverage of three martial arts (taekwondo, karate and judo) during 1943-2008. Findings showed an average prevalence of the total body injuries (57.06%, 38.27% and 25.93%) for hand, neck and torso in karate, taekwondo and judo, respectively. Comparing the injury incidence percent revealed the high rate of lower limb, head and neck injuries for taekwondo; head, neck and then inferior limb for karate; superior limb and then inferior limb for judo, respectively. The highest percentage of injury types in taekwondo and karate were for contusion and sprain; in judo firstly sprain and then contusion. Injuries in hand, neck and torso account for a high rate of bodily injuries in martial arts. Among the factors involved are the technical errors in the maneuvers made on victims and the mis-performance of the techniques. Determining the predisposing factors for injuries have a significant role in the prevention of forthcoming competitive injuries.