Volume 8, Issue 2 (9-2022)                   J Sport Biomech 2022, 8(2): 90-112 | Back to browse issues page


XML Persian Abstract Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Fatahi A, Nikjoo N. Karate Pathology: A systematic Review. J Sport Biomech 2022; 8 (2) :90-112
URL: http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-259-en.html
1- Department of Sports Biomechanics, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Full-Text [PDF 2196 kb]   (780 Downloads)     |   Abstract (HTML)  (3469 Views)
Full-Text:   (4746 Views)
 Extended Abstract
1.    Introduction
The number of participants taking part in martial arts has risen considerably in recent years, with more than 75 million teens engaged in at least one martial art around the world (1). Karate, taekwondo, and judo are among these sports, and they are known as the most popular martial arts in the world (2, 3). They also occupy a specific position in Iran. Personal defense, physical fitness, and flexibility enhancement, as well as building and expanding the athletes' self-confidence are all important benefits of these sports (4, 5). On the other hand, accidents and injuries in martial arts, like other full-contact sports, are unavoidable, and athletes in these disciplines are always exposed to a group of potential dangers (6). On the one hand, an increase in the number of martial arts fans has also resulted in an increase in injuries and, on the other hand, high costs and the risk of losing players necessitate the development of a solution that reduces these injuries (7). As a result, carefully analyzing the occurrence of injuries and investigating the mechanism of injury as well as the risk of health factors that constitute the foundation of injury prevention programs is critical (6). As a result, the goal of this study was to conduct a systematic analysis of the key researches that have been conducted in the field of karate injuries in order to provide a thorough description of the findings of past studies and to provide subsequent researchers with more information.
2.    Methods
This study was a systematic review with the aim of investigating karate injuries. In order to achieve this goal, in the present study, we reviewed the titles and abstracts of scientific studies performed on karate injuries and available in the electronic databases of Google, Google Scholar, PubMed Scopus, Magiran, Irandoc, SID, and ScienceDirect, with a time limit from 1975 to 2021. To search for related articles, the keywords including karate, sports injury, prevalence, cause, risk factors, and competition wereused. Articles were found using electronic searches in the aforementioned databases. The criteria for including the articles in the study were being published in scientific research journals or higher levels, related to the sport of karate, and at least one of the cases such as prevalence of injury, location of injury, time of injury i.e, practice or competition, the severity of injury, type of injury, cause and mechanism of injury, risk factors, and injury prevention protocols. The criteria for being excluded from the study were the articles that did not meet the purpose of writing this article. Consequently, sixty-six papers that met the criteria of inclusion wwere selected.
3.    Results
A review of the information available on karate injuries revealed significant discrepancies in the reporting methodologies used by these studies. In the examination of articles, it was discovered that the severity of the injury, the location of injury, the mechanism of injury, and, in general, the approaches to injury assessment in the studies listed follow various patterns, implying that future studies should match these qualities. In addition, paying more attention to gender differences in karate injuries can assist to limit the damage caused by these activities. In general, research indicates that contusion and bruising are the most common types of karate injuries, and that all of these injuries were mild. The majority of karate injuries are also seen in the head and neck region. Since the majority of injuries occur as a result of blows and technical errors during training, it appears that the role of coaches in preventing injury is critical, and that proper technique training by coaches, as well as an emphasis on the use of proper attack and defense techniques in future studies can help to reduce injuries. Strikes to the opponent's body, as well as blows to the upper body and head, have higher scores. It appears that reviewing the rules, particularly in the sensitive ages of adolescence, and examining their effect in future studies are logical attempts to be done to reduce injuries in these sports.
4.    Conclusion
The goal of this study was to conduct a scientific review of domestic and international researches in the field of karate pathology, as well as a breakdown based on gender, history, area of injury, severity of injury, type of injury, cause and mechanism of injury, and injury location, and to provide an appropriate summary based on the findings of previous studies. In this study, the papers were found in specialized databases were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and then were analyzed.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines

There were no ethical considerations to be considered in this research.
Funding
This research did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.
Authors' contributions
All authors equally contributed to preparing article.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2021/07/2 | Accepted: 2021/12/22 | Published: 2022/09/22

References
1. Birrer RB. Trauma epidemiology in the martial arts: the results of an eighteen-year international survey. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1996;24(6_suppl):S72-S79. [DOI:10.1177/036354659602406S21]
2. Fu FH, Stone DA. Sports injuries: mechanisms, prevention, treatment: Williams & Wilkins; 1994.
3. Zetaruk M, Violan M, Zurakowski D, Micheli L. Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles. British journal of sports medicine. 2005;39(1):29-33. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.2003.010322] [PMID] [PMCID]
4. Kazemi M, Shearer H, Choung YS. Pre-competition habits and injuries in Taekwondo athletes. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2005;6(1):1-9. [DOI:10.1186/1471-2474-6-26] [PMID] [PMCID]
5. Viswanath Y, Rogers I. A non-contact complete knee dislocation with popliteal artery disruption, a rare martial arts injury. Postgraduate medical journal. 1999;75(887):552-554. [DOI:10.1136/pgmj.75.887.552] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Moghadasi A, Ahanjan S, Taheri H, Abbasi Darebidi M. A comparison of injury prevalence in non professional boys participating: taekwondo, karate and judo. Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology. 2007;3(6):11-29.
7. Sahebozamani M, Beyranvand R. A review of injury assessment in Iranian martial artists: Systematic review. Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2016;5(2):235-248.
8. Halabchi F, Ziaee V, Lotfian S. Injury profile in women shotokan karate championships in iran (2004-2005). Journal of sports science & medicine. 2007;6(CSSI-2):52.
9. Destombe C, Lejeune L, Guillodo Y, Roudaut A, Jousse S, Devauchelle V, et al. Incidence and nature of karate injuries. Joint Bone Spine. 2006;73(2):182-188. [DOI:10.1016/j.jbspin.2005.02.003] [PMID]
10. Nikjoo N, Sadeghi H. Comparison of the ground reaction force, center of mass to center of pressure changes and time to stabilization during landing jump in young professional and semiprofessional karate girls. The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2020:-. [DOI:10.32598/SJRM.10.5.11]
11. Rahnama N, Bambaeichi E, Daneshjou AAH. Incidence and causes of anterior cruciate ligament (acl) injuries in iranian male professional soccer players. OLYMPIC. 2009;16(4 (SERIAL 44)).
12. Sharma L, Song J, Felson DT, Cahue S, Shamiyeh E, Dunlop DD. The role of knee alignment in disease progression and functional decline in knee osteoarthritis. Jama. 2001;286(2):188-195. [DOI:10.1001/jama.286.2.188] [PMID]
13. Bahr R, Krosshaug T. Understanding injury mechanisms: a key component of preventing injuries in sport. British journal of sports medicine. 2005;39(6):324-329. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.2005.018341] [PMID] [PMCID]
14. McCrory P. Clinical guide to sports injuries. British Association of Sport and Excercise Medicine; 2006. [DOI:10.1016/S0162-0908(08)70269-1]
15. Magee DJ, Manske RC. Orthopedic physical assessment-E-Book: Elsevier health sciences; 2020.
16. Grasso R, Bianchi L, Lacquaniti F. Motor patterns for human gait: backward versus forward locomotion. Journal of neurophysiology. 1998;80(4):1868-1885. [DOI:10.1152/jn.1998.80.4.1868] [PMID]
17. dadgar h, Sahebzamani m, Noorai t, Sharifian e. The Relationship between Q - Angle and Non-Contact Injuries of Lower Extremity in Male Karate Players. Journal of Exercise Science and Medicine. 2009;1(3):83-97.
18. Syczewska M, Oberg T. Mechanical energy levels in respect to the center of mass of trunk segments during walking in healthy and stroke subjects. Gait & Posture. 2001;12(2):131.
19. Critchley G, Mannion S, Meredith C. Injury rates in Shotokan karate. British journal of sports medicine. 1999;33(3):174-177. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.33.3.174] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Arriaza R, Leyes M. Injury profile in competitive karate: prospective analysis of three consecutive World Karate Championships. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2005;13(7):603-607. [DOI:10.1007/s00167-004-0593-6] [PMID]
21. Burke D. Treating martial arts injuries [K. Sharifi Azar, Persian trans.]. Tehran: Elmoharekat. 1998.
22. Livingston LA, Spaulding SJ. OPTOTRAK Measurement of the Quadriceps angle using standardized foot positions. Journal of athletic training. 2002;37(3):252.
23. Burt CW, Overpeck MD. Emergency visits for sports-related injuries. Annals of emergency medicine. 2001;37(3):301-308. [DOI:10.1067/mem.2001.111707] [PMID]
24. Moghadasi A, Sh A, Taheri H. Dareh Bidi MA. A comparison of injury incidence in non-professional boys participating taekwondo, karate and judo. Journal of sport sciences. 2007;6:55-72.
25. Rosso C, Arnold R, Zenhäusern R, Willscheid G. Team Coverage, On-Field Care and Injuries in Karate. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin & Sporttraumatologie. 2021;69(1).
26. PAL S, YADAV J, KALRA S, SINDHU B. Prevalence of Injury Pattern among Karate Players in Delhi-National Capital Region-A Cross-sectional Survey. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2020;14(8). [DOI:10.7860/JCDR/2020/45061.13993]
27. Pal S, Yadav J, Kalra S, Sindhu B. Injury profile in karate athletes-a literature review. Journal of Critical Reviews. 2020;7(9):1150-1155.
28. Naserpour H, Mirjani M. The Prevalence and Etiology of Ankle Injury in Professional Karate Players in Iran. Journal of Sport Biomechanics. 2019;4(4):2-15. [DOI:10.32598/biomechanics.4.4.2]
29. Hosseinzadeh B, Zandi S, Baban K. Common postures and sport injuries in elite karate athletes. Journal for Research in Sport Rehabilitation. 2019;7(13):111-123.
30. Valcárcel-Linares D, Torres-Lacomba M. Dolor en el entrenamiento en el karate de competición. Estudio de prevalencia. Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte. 2020 Jun;20(78):335-52.
31. Galic T, Kuncic D, Poklepovic Pericic T, Galic I, Mihanovic F, Bozic J, et al. Knowledge and attitudes about sports‐related dental injuries and mouthguard use in young athletes in four different contact sports-water polo, karate, taekwondo and handball. Dental traumatology. 2018;34(3):175-181. [DOI:10.1111/edt.12394] [PMID]
32. Čierna D, Barrientos M, Agrasar C, Arriaza R. Epidemiology of injuries in juniors participating in top-level karate competition: a prospective cohort study. British journal of sports medicine. 2018;52(11):730-734. [DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097756] [PMID]
33. Thomas RE, Ornstein J. Injuries in karate: systematic review. The Physician and sportsmedicine. 2018;46(3):279-303. [DOI:10.1080/00913847.2018.1472510] [PMID]
34. Arriaza R, Cierna D, Regueiro P, Inman D, Roman F, Abarca B, et al. Low risk of concussions in top-level karate competition. British journal of sports medicine. 2017;51(4):226-230. [DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096574] [PMID]
35. Čierna D, Lystad RP. Epidemiology of competition injuries in youth karate athletes: a prospective cohort study. British journal of sports medicine. 2017;51(17):1285-1288. [DOI:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097603] [PMID]
36. Ghahremani S, Ghahremani N, Abbasi A. The Effect of Erector Spinae Muscle Fatigue on the Sensation of Trunk, Hip, and Knee Position among the Male Karate Athletes. JRRS. 2017;13(5):239-246.
37. Swanson J-D, Morrissey J, Barragan A. Comparison of Shotokan karate injuries against injuries in other martial arts and select NCAA contact sports. The Sport Journal. 2017;19:3.
38. Vitale JA, Bassani T, Galbusera F, Bianchi A, Martinelli N. Injury rates in martial art athletes: anthropometric parameters and training volume, but not foot. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2017.
39. Antekolović L, Lenard M, Wertheimer V. Učestalost i vrste ozljeda u karateu. Hrvatski športskomedicinski vjesnik. 2016;31(2):58-63.
40. Arriaza R, Inman D, Arriaza A, Saavedra MA. Low risk of injuries in young adolescents participating in top-level karate competition. The American journal of sports medicine. 2016;44(2):305-308. [DOI:10.1177/0363546515615577] [PMID]
41. VencesBrito A, Castro MA, Valente EJ, Romero F, Figueiredo A. Is the Portuguese Karate practice safe? Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas. 2016;11(2s):46-47. [DOI:10.18002/rama.v11i2s.4165]
42. Tischer T, Lembcke B, Ellenrieder M, Glass Ä, Weigert W, Mittelmeier W. Injuries in karate sports: a survey performed during the world championship 2014. Sportverletzung Sportschaden: Organ der Gesellschaft fur Orthopadisch-traumatologische Sportmedizin. 2016;30(4):204-210. [DOI:10.1055/s-0042-112689] [PMID]
43. Greier K, Riechelmann H, Ziemska J. Sportverletzungen im Vollkontakt-und Semikontaktkarate (Ein Vergleich von Kyokushinkai-und traditionellem Karate). OP-JOURNAL. 2016;32(01):15-19. [DOI:10.1055/s-0042-110667]
44. Ambroży T, Mucha D, Czarnecki W, Ambroży D, Janusz M, Piwowarski J, et al. Most common injuries to professional contestant karate. Secur Dimens Int Nat Stud. 2015;16:142-164.
45. Lystad RP. Epidemiology of injuries in full-contact combat sports. Australasian Epidemiologist. 2015;22(1):14.
46. Ziaee V, Shobbar M, Lotfian S, Ahmadinejad M. Sport injuries of karate during training: an epidemiologic study in Iran. Asian journal of sports medicine. 2015;6(2). [DOI:10.5812/asjsm.26832] [PMID] [PMCID]
47. Vidovic-Stesevic V, Verna C, Krastl G, Kuhl S, Filippi A. Facial and Dental Injuries Facial and Dental Injuries in Karate. Swiss dental journal. 2015;125(7-8):810-814.
48. McClain R, Wassermen J, Mayfield C, Berry AC, Grenier G, Suminski RR. Injury profile of mixed martial arts competitors. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2014;24(6):497-501. [DOI:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000078] [PMID]
49. Sterkowicz S, Sterkowicz-Przybycień K. Injuries in karate: a review. OA Sports Medicine. 2013;1(2):14. [DOI:10.13172/2053-2040-1-2-771]
50. Rosso C, Zenhäusern R, Müller AM, Valderrabano V. Karate-do-the path of the empty hand. Sport-Orthopädie-Sport-Traumatologie-Sports Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2012;28(1):12-16. [DOI:10.1016/j.orthtr.2012.02.013]
51. Rahimi M, Halabchi F, Alibakhshi E, Kalali N. Sport injuries of Karatekas at international competitions. Iranian Journal of Military Medicine. 2012;13(4):1-6.
52. Alizadeh MH, Shirzad E, Sedaghati P. Epidemiology of head, neck and torso injuries in taekwondo, karate and judo. Feyz Journal of Kashan University of Medical Sciences. 2012;16(4).
53. Boostani MH, Boostani MA, Nowzari V. Type, incidence and causes of injuries in elective karate national team competition for dispatch to Asian karate Championship in Uzbekistan 2012. Journal of Combat Sports and Martial Arts. 2012;3:43-45. [DOI:10.5604/20815735.1047646]
54. Souza JMCd, Faim FT, Nakashima IY, Altruda CR, Medeiros WM, Silva LRd. Lesions in Shotokan Karate and Jiu-Jitsu: direct trauma versus indirect. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 2011;17(2):107-110. [DOI:10.1590/S1517-86922011000200007]
55. Peeri M, Boostani MH, Boostani MA, Kohanpur MA, Mirsepasi M. The rate of prevalence and causes of sport injuries in males karate kumite players. World Applied Sciences Journal. 2011;15(5):660-666.
56. Pieter W. Competition injury rates in young karate athletes. Science & Sports. 2010;25(1):32-38. [DOI:10.1016/j.scispo.2009.07.001]
57. Ghasemi GA, Marandi SM, Batavani M, Batavani MR. Incidence and mechanism of acute injuries in Iran Karate Championship 2010. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2010;44(Suppl 1):i6-i7. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.2010.078725.20]
58. Arriaza R, Leyes M, Zaeimkohan H, Arriaza A. The injury profile of Karate World Championships: new rules, less injuries. Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy. 2009;17(12):1437-1442. [DOI:10.1007/s00167-009-0856-3] [PMID]
59. Rahimi M, Halabchi F, GHasemi G, Zolaktaf V. Prevalence of karate Injuries in Professional Karateka in Isfahan. Annals of Military and Health Sciences Research. 2009;3(7):201-207.
60. James K. Incidence and severity of karate injuries: a comparison between genders and age categories: University of Wales Institute Cardiff; 2008.
61. Huang K-C, Hsu W-H, Wang T-C. Acute injury of anterior cruciate ligament during karate training. The Knee. 2007;14(3):245-248. [DOI:10.1016/j.knee.2006.12.002] [PMID]
62. Yard EE, Knox CL, Smith GA, Comstock RD. Pediatric martial arts injuries presenting to Emergency Departments, United States 1990-2003. Journal of science and medicine in sport. 2007;10(4):219-226. [DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2006.06.016] [PMID]
63. Pieter W. Time-loss injuries in karate. Acta Kinesiologiae Universitatis Tartuensis. 2007;12:104-115.
64. Macan J, Bundalo-Vrbanac D, Romić G. Effects of the new karate rules on the incidence and distribution of injuries. British journal of sports medicine. 2006;40(4):326-330. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.2005.022459] [PMID] [PMCID]
65. Bledsoe GH, Hsu EB, Grabowski JG, Brill JD, Li G. Incidence of injury in professional mixed martial arts competitions. Journal of sports science & medicine. 2006;5(CSSI):136.
66. Pieter W. Martial arts injuries. Epidemiology of pediatric sports injuries. 2005;48:59-73. [DOI:10.1159/000084283] [PMID]
67. Müller-Rath R, Miltner O, Mamarvar M, Mumme T. Das Verletzungsrisiko im Jugend-und Juniorenwettkampfkarate. Sportverletzung· Sportschaden. 2005;19(04):191-194. [DOI:10.1055/s-2005-858818] [PMID]
68. Müller-Rath R, Miltner O, Mamarvar M, Mumme T. Risk of injury in and adolescent and junior competitive karate. Sportverletzung Sportschaden: Organ der Gesellschaft fur Orthopadisch-traumatologische Sportmedizin. 2005;19(4):191-194. [DOI:10.1055/s-2005-858818] [PMID]
69. Macan J, Bundalo D, Romis G. The prevalence and distribution of injuries in karate (kumite). Kinesiology. 2001;33(2.):137-145.
70. Zetaruk MN, Violan MA, Zurakowski D, Micheli LJ. Karate injuries in children and adolescents. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2000;32(3):421-425. [DOI:10.1016/S0001-4575(99)00120-7] [PMID]
71. Zetaruk MN, Zurakowski D, Violan MA, Micheli LJ. Safety recommendations in Shotokan karate. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2000;10(2):117-122. [DOI:10.1097/00042752-200004000-00006] [PMID]
72. Müller-Rath R, Bolte S, Petersen P, Mommsen U. Injury profile in modern competitive karate--analysis of 1999 WKC-Karate World Championship Games in Bochum. Sportverletzung Sportschaden: Organ der Gesellschaft fur Orthopadisch-Traumatologische Sportmedizin. 2000;14(1):20-24. [DOI:10.1055/s-2000-3818] [PMID]
73. Blumenthal DT, Riggs JE, Ortiz O. Carotid artery occlusion following a karate punch to the neck. Military medicine. 1996;161(9):562-563. [DOI:10.1093/milmed/161.9.562] [PMID]
74. Tuominen R. Injuries in national karate competitions in Finland. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 1995;5(1):44-48. [DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0838.1995.tb00010.x] [PMID]
75. Kujala UM, Taimela S, Antti-Poika I, Orava S, Tuominen R, Myllynen P. Acute injuries in soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, basketball, judo, and karate: analysis of national registry data. Bmj. 1995;311(7018):1465-1468. [DOI:10.1136/bmj.311.7018.1465] [PMID] [PMCID]
76. Agnew P. Taping of foot and ankle for Korean karate. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 1993;83(9):534-536. [DOI:10.7547/87507315-83-9-534] [PMID]
77. Johannsen H, Noerregaard F. Prevention of injury in karate. British journal of sports medicine. 1988;22(3):113-115. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.22.3.113] [PMID] [PMCID]
78. Scarponi R, Bianchetti M, Cadlolo R. Bone Injuries in Karate. Italian journal of sports traumatology. 1986;8(4):259-262.
79. Stricevic MV, Patel MR, Okazaki T, Swain BK. Karate: historical perspective and injuries sustained in national and international tournament competitions. The American journal of sports medicine. 1983;11(5):320-324. [DOI:10.1177/036354658301100507] [PMID]
80. McLatchie G. Karate and karate injuries. British journal of sports medicine. 1981;15(1):84-86. [DOI:10.1136/bjsm.15.1.84] [PMID] [PMCID]
81. McLatchie GR, Davies JE, Culley J. Injuries in karate--a case for medical control. The Journal of trauma. 1980;20(11):956-958. [DOI:10.1097/00005373-198011000-00009] [PMID]
82. Kurland HL. Injuries in karate. The Physician and sportsmedicine. 1980;8(10):80-85. [DOI:10.1080/00913847.1980.11948652] [PMID]
83. McLatchie G. Analysis of karate injuries sustained in 295 contests. Injury. 1976;8(2):132-134. [DOI:10.1016/0020-1383(76)90049-8] [PMID]
84. SCHMIDT R. Fatal anterior chest trauma in karate trainers. Medicine and science in sports. 1975;7(1):59-62. [DOI:10.1249/00005768-197500710-00012] [PMID]
85. Hrysomallis C, Goodman C. A Review of Resistance Exercise and Posture Realignment. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2001;15(3):385-390. https://doi.org/10.1519/1533-4287(2001)015<0385:AROREA>2.0.CO;2 [DOI:10.1519/00124278-200108000-00022]
86. Venter S, Janse Van Rensburg DC, Fletcher L, Grant CC. The prevalence, risk factors predicting injury and the severity of injuries sustained during competition in professional mixed martial arts in Africa. South African Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;29:1-5. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2017/v29i1a2939 [DOI:10.17159/2078-516x/2017/v29i0a1471]
87. Zatsiorsky V. Biomechanics in Sport: Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention: Olympic Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine, Volume IX: Wiley; 2000.

Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2024 CC BY-NC 4.0 | Journal of Sport Biomechanics

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb