Injuries Muay Thai is a combat sport that utilises eight different parts of the body (fists, elbows, knees and shins) so injuries are quite common in all levels of muay Thai. An injury is considered reportable if it requires the athlete to rest for more than one day. Many injuries in the sport go unreported as the fighters may not notice the injuries at first, refuse to admit that they need treatment, have a heightened pain threshold, fear that their instructor will perceive the injury negatively, or have confusion as to what is an injury. Similar to most sports, injury rates tend to be higher in beginners than amateurs and professionals. Soft tissue injuries are the most common form of injury in muay Thai, comprising between 80 and 90% of all injuries. These injuries are caused by repeated trauma to soft parts of the body. During matches there is little to no padding, leaving soft tissue vulnerable to strikes. The second most common injuries among beginners and amateurs are sprains and strains. It appears that these injuries can be easily avoided or reduced. Many participants of a study admitted to inadequate warm up before the event of the injury. The third most common injuries are fractures. Fractures are more commonly seen with amateur and professional fighters, because they are allowed full contact, while beginners are not. The most common sites for fractures are the nose, carpal bones, metacarpals, digits and ribs. The distribution of injuries differs significantly for beginners, amateurs and professionals, because as a fighter progresses through the different levels, the forces involved grow progressively higher, less padding and protective equipment is used, and athletes are likely to train harder, resulting in more serious injuries among experienced fighters.
Injuries Muay Thai is a combat sport that utilises eight different parts of the body (fists elbows knees and shins) so injuries are quite common in all levels of muay Thai An injury is considered reportable if it requires the athlete to rest for more than one day Many injuries in the sport go unreported as the fighters may not notice the injuries at first refuse to admit that they need treatment have a heightened pain threshold fear that their instructor will perceive the injury negatively or have confusion as to what is an injury Similar to most sports injury rates tend to be higher in beginners than amateurs and professionals Soft tissue injuries are the most common form of injury in muay Thai comprising between 80 and 90% of all injuries These injuries are caused by repeated trauma to soft parts of the body During matches there is little to no padding leaving soft tissue vulnerable to strikes The second most common injuries among beginners and amateurs are sprains and strains It appears that these injuries can be easily avoided or reduced Many participants of a study admitted to inadequate warm up before the event of the injury The third most common injuries are fractures Fractures are more commonly seen with amateur and professional fighters because they are allowed full contact while beginners are not The most common sites for fractures are the nose carpal bones metacarpals digits and ribs The distribution of injuries differs significantly for beginners amateurs and professionals because as a fighter progresses through the different levels the forces involved grow progressively higher less padding and protective equipment is used and athletes are likely to train harder resulting in more serious injuries among experienced fighters