Combat sports – where the athlete puts it all on the line to break down his/her opponent, either physically or mentally. Due to the nature of the sports, it is inevitable that injuries will occur. Therefore, it is imperative that medical practitioners have a comprehensive understanding of the training and competition combat athletes participate in, as well as the injury characteristics to be prepared for the most pertinent injuries and its rehabilitation course.
There are many components to the combat athletes training regime. The martial arts gym is where the athlete develops skills and tactics to ensure they are well equipped in their ability to defend and attack in their sport. The weights room is where the athlete develops and enhances their general physical qualities (e.g strength, power and speed). And lastly, the cage/ring/mats, are where the athlete puts it all together in competition, to display their unique style of martial art against their opponent.
When an athlete becomes injured, whether in training or in competition, it is imperative that their rehabilitation is guided by a qualified health professional (such as a physiotherapist/physical therapist), as the biggest risk factor for injury is previous injury to the site. It is also crucial that the practitioner understands the biomechanics and demands of the sport, as it will allow for a specific and effective rehabilitation program. Musculoskeletal injuries usually occur when an internal/external stress is applied to the bones, tendons, ligaments, joints and cartilage which is beyond the normal tissue capacity. This can be either acute or chronic.
In 2020, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) developed a cross-sectional performance analysis and projection of the UFC Athlete. They found that the most common injuries sustained from grappling were diagnoses’ involving the neck, low back and shoulder. The most common striking-related injuries involved knee pain, wrist/hand pain, concussions and foot pain. Finally, the most common injuries involved in submission techniques included knee and elbow injuries that involved ligament sprains.
Physiotherapists are experts in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, as well as prehabilitation. They are proficient in assessment and treatment, exercise prescription, manual therapy, and concussion/vestibular rehabilitation. And whilst there are many other physiotherapy clinics you can receive treatment from, Physioplus has practicing martial artists, who train and compete in mixed martial arts, wrestling, jiu-jitsu and muay thai. They understand the demands of the sport and what is required to make a full return to the mats, which makes them the most qualified to help you return to/optimise your martial arts journey.
