Doherty Colin S, Barley Oliver R, Fortington Lauren V
School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.
Sports Med Open. 2025 May 28;11(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00880-3.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) and Muay Thai (MT) are widely practiced combat sports, yet research on the full spectrum of competition-related health problems (HPs) remains limited, particularly for MT. Existing studies in both sports primarily focus on retrospective analyses of severe injuries, often estimating time lost from training or competition. This study describes the incidence of all competition HPs reported seven days after MMA and MT contests, and determines the number of days impacted by tracking athletes' self-identified worst HPs until resolution.
Data on competition HPs were collected using an online questionnaire completed seven days after each MMA and MT event (n = 26). The questionnaire included the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems 2 (OSTRC-H2). The Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia provided competition exposure time data. Incidence rates of HPs were calculated per 100 min of exposure (HPIR). Competitors reporting HPs were followed up weekly using the OSTRC-H2 questionnaire until their worst HPs resolved.
Of the 175 competitors (238 responses) who completed the questionnaire (76% male; age: 27 ± 6 years), 81 competitors (92 responses) reported a total of 411 HPs (315 injuries, 96 illnesses). Among the 92 worst HPs, 26 were substantial, and 24 prevented training. The HPIR was 20.1 (95% CI: 16.5-24.4) for MMA and 25 (95% CI: 22.3-28) for MT. Follow-up captured 78 (85%) of the worst HPs, with 175 responses collected over 14-70 days post-competition. The median days impacted by the worst HPs were 20 for MMA and 16 for MT.
Among respondents, 39% reported at least one HP. On average, the worst HPs resolved in less than three weeks. These findings provide valuable insights into the frequency and impact of competition HPs,offering important information for promoters, athletes, coaches, and regulatory bodies to better understand and address the health challenges faced by combat sports athletes.
综合格斗（MMA）和泰拳（MT）是广泛开展的格斗运动，但对于与比赛相关的全方位健康问题（HPs）的研究仍然有限，尤其是针对泰拳的研究。这两项运动的现有研究主要集中在对严重损伤的回顾性分析上，通常是估计训练或比赛损失的时间。本研究描述了综合格斗和泰拳比赛七天后报告的所有比赛相关健康问题的发生率，并通过追踪运动员自我认定的最严重健康问题直至解决来确定受影响的天数。
使用在每次综合格斗和泰拳赛事七天后完成的在线问卷收集比赛相关健康问题的数据（n = 26）。问卷包括奥斯陆体育创伤研究中心健康问题问卷2（OSTRC - H2）。西澳大利亚格斗运动委员会提供比赛暴露时间数据。按每100分钟暴露时间计算健康问题发生率（HPIR）。对报告有健康问题的参赛者每周使用OSTRC - H2问卷进行随访，直至其最严重的健康问题得到解决。
在完成问卷的175名参赛者（238份回复）中（76%为男性；年龄：27±6岁），81名参赛者（9十二条回复）报告了总共411个健康问题（315处损伤，96种疾病）。在92个最严重的健康问题中，26个较为严重，24个导致无法训练。综合格斗的健康问题发生率为20.1（95%可信区间：16.5 - 24.4），泰拳为25（95%可信区间：22.3 - 28）。随访捕捉到了92个最严重健康问题中的78个（85%），在比赛后14 - 70天收集了175份回复。最严重健康问题影响的中位数天数，综合格斗为20天，泰拳为16天。
在受访者中，39%报告至少有一个健康问题。平均而言，最严重的健康问题在不到三周内得到解决。这些发现为比赛相关健康问题的频率和影响提供了有价值的见解，为赛事推广人、运动员、教练和监管机构提供了重要信息，以便更好地理解和应对格斗运动运动员面临的健康挑战。
