Boxing injury epidemiology in the Great Britain team: a 5-year surveillance study of medically diagnosed injury incidence and outcome

Loosemore, Michael; Lightfoot, Joseph; Palmer-Green, Deborah; Gatt, Ian; Bilzon, James; Beardsley, Chris

Abstract

Objectives: there has been no comprehensive injury
report of elite-level amateur boxers in competition and
training. We reviewed injuries in training and
competition in the Great Britain (GB) amateur boxing
squad between 2005 and 2009.
Methods: longitudinal, prospective injury surveillance
over 5 years of the GB boxing squad from 2005 to
2009. 66 boxers passed through the squad. The
location, region affected, description, and the duration of
each injury were recorded by the team doctor and team
physiotherapist. We recorded whether the injury occurred
during competition or training, and also whether it was
a new or a recurrent injury. The injury rate during
competition was calculated as the number of injuries
per 1000 h.
Results: more injuries affected the hand than any other
body location. This was the case overall, in training and
competition individually, and for both new and recurrent
injuries. More injuries occurred during training than
during competition, and most injuries were new rather
than recurrent. Total injury rate during competition was
828 per 1000 h and hand injury rate in competition was
302 injuries per 1000 h. Hand injury rate in competition
was significantly higher than at the other locations.
The incidence of concussion is comparatively low.
Conclusions: injury prevention should aim to protect
the hands and wrists of elite amateur boxers.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 24, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jul 17, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2016
• Print ISSN: 0306-3674
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-0480
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 17
• Pages: 1100-1107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094755
• Keywords: Boxing; injury; trauma; epidemiology; health education
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9454
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094755
• Contract Date: Jan 20, 2016