Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(8): 629-634
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1275302
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Acute Injuries in Taekwondo

K. Schlüter-Brust1 , P. Leistenschneider1 , J. Dargel1 , H. P. Springorum1 , P. Eysel1 , J. W.-P. Michael1
  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Cologne, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision February 21, 2011

Publication Date:
11 May 2011 (online)

Abstract

Although Taekwondo is becoming an increasingly popular sport, there is a lack of reliable epidemiologic data on Taekwondo injuries. To perform an epidemiologic study on the variety of types of injury in professional and amateur Taekwondo athletes and to find a relation between Taekwondo style, skill level, weight-class and warm-up routine and the occurrence of injuries, we analysed the injury data using a 7-page questionnaire from a total of 356 Taekwondo athletes who were randomly selected. Overall, we registered a total of 2 164 injuries in 356 athletes. Most traumas were contusions and sprains in the lower extremities. Professional Taekwondo athletes have an increased risk of injury in comparison to recreational athletes. Taekwondo style, weight class and tournament frequency have an influence on the athlete's injury profile. Warm-up routines were found to have a positive effect on injury rates. Overall, Taekwondo may be considered a rather benign activity, if injuries during Taekwondo tournaments can be avoided. If not, Taekwondo can result in serious musculoskeletal problems.

References

  • 1 Beis K, Tsaklis P, Pieter W, Abatzides G. Taekwondo competition injuries in Greek young and adult athletes.  Eur J Sports Traumatol Res. 2001;  23 130-136
  • 2 Birrer RB, Birrer CD. Unreported injuries in the martial arts.  Br J Sports Med. 1983;  17 131-134
  • 3 Birrer RB, Halbrook SP. Martial arts injuries – the results of a five year national survey.  Am J Sports Med. 1988;  16 408-410
  • 4 Burke DT, Barfoot K, Bryant S, Schneider JC, Kim HJ, Levin G. Effect of implementation of safety measures in tae kwon do competition.  Br J Sports Med. 2003;  37 401-404
  • 5 Dick R. National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System 1982–1987.. Mission, KS: NCAA; 1988
  • 6 Gong HS, Kim YH, Park MS. Varus instability of the hallux interphalangeal joint in a Taekwondo athlete.  Br J Sports Med. 2007;  41 917-919
  • 7 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
  • 8 Junge A, Engebretsen L, Mountjoy ML, Alonso JM, Renström PAFH, Aubry MJ, Dvorak J. Sports injuries during the Summer Olympic Games 2008.  Am J Sports Med. 2009;  37 2165-2172
  • 9 Kazemi M, Pieter W. Injuries at a Canadian National Taekwondo Championship: a prospective study.  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2004;  5 22-28
  • 10 Koh JO, Watkinson EJ. Video analysis of blows to the head and face at the 1999 World Taekwondo Championships.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2002;  42 348-353
  • 11 Koh JO, Cassidy JD, Watkinson EJ. Incidence of concussion in contact sports: a systematic review of the evidence.  Brain Injury. 2003;  17 901-917
  • 12 Koh JO, Cassidy JD. Incidence study of head blows and concussions in competition Taekwondo.  Clin J Sport Med. 2004;  14 72-79
  • 13 Lee KT, Choi YS, Lee YK, Lee JP, Young KW, Park SY. Extensor hallucis longus tendon injury in Taekwondo athletes.  Phys Ther Sport. 2009;  10 101-104
  • 14 McLatchie GR, Commandre FA, Zakarian H, Vanuxem P, Lamendin H, Barrault D, Chau PG. Injuries in the martial arts.. Volume V of the Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1994: 609-623
  • 15 Pary LF, Rodnitzky RL. Traumatic internal carotid artery dissection associated with Taekwondo.  Neurology. 2003;  60 1392-1393
  • 16 Pieter W, Zemper ED. Injury rates in children participating in Taekwondo competition.  J Trauma. 1997;  43 89-95
  • 17 Pieter W, Bercades LT, Heijmans J. Injuries in young and adult Taekwondo athletes.  Kinesiology. 1998;  30 22-30
  • 18 Pieter W, Zemper ED. Incidence of reported cerebral concussion in adult Taekwondo athletes.  J Roy Soc Health. 1998;  118 272-279
  • 19 Pieter W, Kazemi M. Injuries in young Taekwondo athletes.. ACSM 49th Annual Meeting, St. Louis MI, USA; 2002, May 28–June 1
  • 20 Pieter W. Martial Arts Injuries.  In: Caine DJ, Maffulli N (eds). Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries Med Sport Sci. Basel, Karger 2005 48: 59-73
  • 21 The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee of the Head Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation . Definition of mild traumatic brain injury.  J Head Trauma Rehab. 1993;  8 86-87
  • 22 Zemper ED, Pieter W. Injury rates during the 1988 US Olympic Team Trials for Taekwondo.  Br J Sports Med. 1989;  23 161-164
  • 23 Zetaruk MN, Violán MA, Zurakowski D, Micheli LJ. Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles.  Br J Sports Med. 2005;  39 29-33

Correspondence

Joern W.-P. MichaelMD 

University of Cologne

Department of Orthopedic

Surgery

Joseph-Stelzmann-Street 9

50931 Cologne

Germany

Phone: +49/221/478 4616

Fax: +49/221/478 7045

Email: joern.michael@uk-koeln.de

    >