An Investigation of Knee Injury Profiles among Iranian Elite Karatekas: Observations from a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Karate training, despite the many positive health benefits, carries a risk of injury for participants. The current cross-sectional study aimed to investigate knee injury profiles among Iranian elite karatekas. Participants who attended the national team qualifiers, which included 390 male Kumite karatekas (age 24 ± 3 years old and weight 63 ± 12 kg), participated in this study. Information on knee injuries (injury history, type of injury mechanisms, and effects of knee symptoms on the ability to perform daily activities and recreational activities) were obtained using the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS). Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the study examined the relationships between different variables, including KOS subscales and levels of self-reported knee joint function. Our findings indicated that 287 karatekas (73.6%) experienced knee injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture (6.9%), articular cartilage (5.4%), and meniscus damage (3.8%) were the main typology of injury. In addition, there were no differences in knee injuries between the non-dominant and dominant legs. Most injuries occurred during the preparatory period (n = 162, 50%), especially during training periods. The KOS subscales scores (Mean ± Sd) for activities of daily living (ADL) and sports activity (SAS) were, respectively, 89 ± 11 and 91 ± 9. The self-reported scores for both the ADL and SAS subscales were, respectively, 89 ± 11 and 90 ± 10. Pearson coefficients of ADL and SAS subscales with their self-reported score were r = 0.761 (p < 0.0001) and r = 0.782 and (p < 0.0001), respectively. The profile of knee injuries in the current investigation is similar to previous surveys that reported lower extremity injury patterns. The findings of this study could be adopted to inform practice aimed at planning interventions for the reduction and prevention of knee injuries among karatekas.

Prevalence and mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament tears in military personnel: A cross-sectional study in Iran

“…Leg dominance, defined by the leg preferred for kicking a ball, was recorded for 46 patients where 43 had a right-sided dominance [ 52 ]; their results in terms of proportion were similar to our finding with a higher proportion for right sides, although our results were not statically significant. However, another study in Iranian athletes reported no differences in knee injuries between the limb non-dominant and dominant sides [ 29 ].…”

“…It is crucial that decision makers recognize the factors associated with ACL injuries in order to develop practical strategies to reduce injuries [ 23 , 29 ]. Generally, it may be important to consider demographic characteristics of individuals, and type of activities and mechanisms, and careful positioning of the lower leg in addition to the timing and duration of activities when caring for ACL injuries.…”

“…These enormous numbers result not only in a large number of patients, but also in a loss of military forces and skills in warfare. ACL injury can lead to posttraumatic knee osteoarthritis at a rather younger age [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], it could be a physical and economic burden to society [13,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. This is particularly noteworthy in military service, as ACL injury can lead to termination of perfect military performance and early retirement.…”

Martial Arts: Orthopaedic Injuries and Related Biomechanics

“…4,5 Rule changes in competitions, includ-ing those that are made in an attempt at injury prevention, can modify injury incidences. [3][4][5][6]…”

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“…It is crucial that decision makers recognize the factors associated with ACL injuries in order to develop practical strategies to reduce injuries [23,29]. Generally, it may be important to consider demographic characteristics of individuals, and type of activities and mechanisms, and careful positioning of the lower leg in addition to the timing and duration of activities when caring for ACL injuries.…”