Month: February 2022

Check out Part 1 if you haven’t already!

1. Eye Injuries

Fighters are typically struck in the eye, head and face areas during training and competitions. The most common injuries we see as a result of these blows are:

Conjunctival lacerations

Conjunctival lacerations are the most common eye injury we see in MMA. They are caused by impact to the eye or face and can involve either the skin (superficial) or deeper structures of the eyelids. Conjunctival lacerations are typically easily treated but can be a cause of long-term problems if not managed properly.

Cryptophthalmos

The term “cryptophthalmos” refers to a sunken socket in which the eyeball is not covered by any eyelid tissue. This condition can be caused by repeated blunt trauma to the eye, such as a punch or kick. The bone that forms the rim of the eye socket may actually collapse inward, opening up the area under the eyelid so that you can see some of the eyeball itself. If left untreated, this condition can affect the vision.

Blowouts

where there is hypotony (decrease in intraocular pressure) in combination with rupture of the globe (cornea or lens) which occurs from a blunt force impact to the eye. If a blowout does occur, it is recommended to stop fighting immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Hyphemia – blood in the anterior chamber of the eye. This is different from subconjunctival haemorrhage, which is blood underneath the conjunctiva. The risk for developing a hyphemia increases with increasing age, especially after age 50 years

Corneal abrasions

These are caused by abrasion of corneal epithelium against foreign objects such as fingernail, an eyelash or contact lenses. Commonly found in contact lens wearers who remove their lenses without first rinsing their eyes under running water or saline solution.

Retinal detachment

Famously suffered by former UFC Champion Michael Bisping, this is an extremely serious problem that results from blunt force trauma to an eye when a tear in the retina occurs. The retina is a thin, light sensitive layer of tissue.

Preventing eye injuries comes down to attention to detail in training, particularly with regard to your sparring partners. When you’re set to fight someone on a televised card with thousands of viewers around the world, you don’t want to be blinded by that person’s stray elbow or head kick. The best way to prepare for this is through proper training and using protective equipment during sparring sessions. Fighting someone like Jon ‘Bones’ Jones may increase your risk of an eye injury dramatically.

2. Hand and Finger Injuries

As a striker, your hands are your main weapon so it’s important to keep them in the best condition possible. You need to avoid injuring or breaking bones in your hands and fingers to be able to continue fighting.

The most common problem encountered after striking is a broken or torn knuckle. This is caused by punching directly against the skull or some other hard object (such as the elbow or shin).

If you do break your knuckle, wrap it up and go to the doctor immediately. If you do not get proper treatment, you risk having permanent damage that could affect your ability to fight in the future.

To prevent this type of injury, make sure to always wrap your hands with hand wraps before working out or sparring. This protects your knuckles from breaking if they are hit against something hard.

Also, you need to remember that when you take a punch in the fingers, they absorb most of the impact and can result in finger joints being damaged. Another way to avoid finger injuries is to strengthen your thumb and fingers by using squeeze grip exercisers.

Here are some more ways you can prevent hand and finger injuries:

Warm up thoroughly before every training session.

Make sure you have proper technique when throwing punches and kicks.

Use wraps and gloves that provide adequate support.

Take care of any cuts or abrasions on your knuckles immediately!

3. Jaw Injuries and TMJ Problems

Jaw injuries are quite common among MMA fighters. This type of injury is referred to as a mandibular fracture and results from the impact of force on the area around the jaw. The reason why this happens often in MMA is because with this sport, you’re involved in full contact fighting with other fighters.

The most common causes of jaw injuries are:

Head kicks.

Punches.

Getting hit too hard on the chin by a well-placed elbow strike or knee strike.

Treating a jaw injury is different depending on the type of injury. I’ve broken my jaw in the past, and that’s a lot easier to recover from than TMJ. You can’t just pop your jaw back in place like you would with a broken bone. The bone has to heal naturally before you will be able to return to full training again. Now let’s take a look at some of the most common injuries in MMA and how they are treated:

1.) Jaw Fractures: A simple fracture can take a couple weeks to heal depending on the severity and if there was any nerve damage or if it was displaced. A complex fracture could take up to two months for complete healing, and sometimes longer for it to feel completely normal again.

2.) Dislocated Jaw: A dislocated jaw is when the mandible (lower jaw) shifts out of place in relation to the maxilla (upper jaw). This may include fractures around the joint as well

4: Bruising and Contusion

The bruising and contusion section is a list of common injuries in MMA caused by the trauma of hitting or kicking. These are broken down into four categories:

– Contusions (bruising)

– Lacerations (cuts)

– Compartment Syndrome

– Abrasions

Contusions and lacerations are more common in MMA than other combat sports because most other combat sports do not use punching and kicking.

Compartment syndrome is an injury that can occur when there is increased pressure in an enclosed space. In the case of MMA, this usually occurs during training because the tissue surrounding muscles becomes swollen, restricting blood flow to the muscle. This leads to damage of the muscle fibers and sometimes even necrosis. Abrasions are abrasions, which is self-explanatory.

Treatment for bruises depends on the severity of the bruise. For minor bruising or superficial bruises, an ice pack will help to reduce pain and swelling. If you sustain major bruising, you should consult your doctor or seek emergency medical attention.

5. Heart Problems and High Blood Pressure

Even though MMA can be called a contact sport, it’s important to note that the blood pressure of professional fighters is much lower than that of football players. This is due to the way MMA fighters train, with more time spent on cardio workouts than on resistance training.

If you’re a fighter or if you’re planning on starting your MMA career, you should know that even though cardiovascular diseases are not very common in MMA athletes, they can still be dangerous if you don’t pay attention to them.

The symptoms of a heart problem include:

Chest pain (angina)

Shortness of breath when exercising

Pain in the upper body, such as pain in your arms, back, neck and jaw

Dizziness and light-headedness

Nausea and extreme fatigue

A fighter’s heart works extra hard during training and fights to keep up with the high demands of the sport. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, it is important that you have yearly check-ups with your physician so they can monitor your heart health.

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight will help reduce your risk of heart disease and lower your blood pressure.

Another way to reduce your risk of heart disease is by incorporating regular aerobic exercise into your daily routine. You should also be aware of your sodium intake and avoid processed foods as much as possible. While these steps may seem small and insignificant, they can help protect you from developing a serious medical condition like high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat.

Overall, MMA Fighters must take the time to care for their bodies, and must avoid injuries at all costs

MMA athletes are some of the most well-conditioned athletes in any sport, but they must take the time to care for their bodies and avoid injury at all costs. Whether you’re a professional or beginner, here are a few tips on how to avoid injury and keep your body in top condition.

As with any physical Endeavor, there are common injuries that can occur with MMA. Some are due to poor training methods and others are from undertraining or overtraining.

MMA fighters must be in top shape, not just physically, but also mentally.

To avoid injury and keep training, it’s important to pay attention to your body and do everything you can to boost performance. By following a few simple tips, you’ll be able to optimize your health and keep training day after day.

Injuries are common in MMA fighters. Some of these injuries are minor, while others may require surgery or long-term physical therapy. It’s important to know how to prevent injuries so that you’re able to continue training without missing a beat.

Any questions? Looking for some kind of combat sports cover? Feel free to contact us at team@combatsportsinsurance.com.au or fill out our form!

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a very proving sport and is rapidly growing in popularity. However, with the growth of this sport comes many injuries that plague the athletes of this endeavour, both during training and on fight night. This has led many people to wonder what they can do to minimize the risks involved in taking part in this fast-growing sport.

MMA training routines are very different from any other sport activity in the world. One person can get a strain lifting weights, while another one can injure his ligaments doing yoga.

MMA fighters often get injured due to the specificity of their training, which includes wrestling, striking and jiu-jitsu techniques. However, despite being such an extraordinary sport, MMA does not have a special category in any sports league. Because of this fact, MMA athletes face some of the biggest challenges when it comes to recovering from an injury or preparing for their next fight.

In this blog we will look at some of the most common injuries for MMA Athletes and examine what steps you can take to prevent these injuries from happening to you.

Section: 1. Head Trauma and Concussions

This will come as no surprise that head trauma is one of the most common injuries among athletes today. However, if you’re a fighter, you should be aware of just how serious a concussion can be and know how to avoid or minimize risk when it comes to head trauma. With repeated blows to the head over time, there is a significant chance that you’ll develop CTE – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

There are two main causes of head trauma and concussions:

1. Lack of proper training and technique.
2. Going too hard against an opponent who has better training and techniques.
3. Uncontrolled Sparring
4. Lack of proper equipment

Treatment for these types of injuries is often similar to treatment for other serious injuries, including surgery. Most head traumas occur when one athlete strikes another in the head with a hard, blunt object, causing a concussion. Although this type of injury can be caused by a punch, kick or knee to the head, it is most often caused by elbows and knees found in MMA.

Processing information after a brain injury takes longer than normal. There are many ways you can experience memory loss after a concussion. Here is a list of things you might experience after suffering from a concussion:

Inability to remember events leading up to an accident

Difficulty learning new information

Repeating words or sentences

Confusion as to time and place

A change in mood or behaviour

Loss of balance and coordination

Section: 2. Shoulder Issues

The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, with the ball at the top of the arm bone and the socket in the shoulder blade. The shoulder is not held in place by muscle strength and relies on stability from its tendons and ligaments.

Shoulder injuries are very common in MMA and especially in BJJ because of the constant pressure on the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a very mobile joint, but mobility can be a double-edged sword. It provides great range of motion but makes the joint vulnerable to injury.

Shoulder injuries such as sprains, tears, dislocations, and separations are common in MMA athletes because of the physical demands of training and fighting. A tear to the rotator cuff involves one or more of four muscles that stabilize the shoulder and allow for full motion. Bursitis is an inflammation of a sac between tendons in the shoulder, which can occur from overuse or repetitive movements.

Many of these injuries can be prevented by building strong rotator cuff muscles and shoulder stabilizers, which help maintain shoulder stability and proper alignment.

All athletes should have a proper training program to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles and prevent muscle imbalances around the shoulder joint. This will help reduce tension on the tendons and make them less susceptible to injury.

Techniques like karate chops (with a resistance band) are great for strengthening your shoulders and rotator cuffs. You can also try external rotation with a TheraBand.

Treatment for shoulder injuries depends on the specific injury but may include rest, icing, physical therapy, and surgery.

Section: 3. Ankle Sprains and Muscle Tears

The ankle is a complex joint, made up of bones, ligaments, and tendons. The ankle joint is stabilized by the lateral ligament complex on the outside of the ankle and the deltoid ligament on the inside of the ankle. A sprain occurs when one or more ligaments become overstretched or torn. Muscle tears occur when one or more muscles are overstretched and torn.

Ankle sprains, muscle tears, and fractures are extremely common among MMA athletes. This can happen when you land wrong on your foot, or when there’s an awkward twisting motion that results in injury.

The severity of an ankle sprain or muscle tear depends on how much the ligament has been stretched beyond its normal limits, which can range from mild (Grade I) to severe (Grade III). Grade I sprains typically involve mild stretching and slight damage to the fibers of a ligament, while Grade III sprains result in complete tearing of a ligament.

The best way to treat a sprained ankle is to use the RICE method. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

The RICE Method Explained:

Rest: Take a break from whatever activity caused the injury and begin the healing process.

Ice: Apply ice to the injured area for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours for two days. Ice can be applied using ice packs or even bags of frozen vegetables such as peas or corn.

Compression: Use compression wraps such as bandages or ACE wraps to help minimize swelling. The wrap should be snug but not so tight it cuts off circulation.

Elevation: Prop up the injured area above your heart to drain excess fluid that accumulates in the area of injury.

The typical injuries that occur in the ankle of an MMA fighter, someone who trains BJJ, and even Boxers; include deltoid ligament tears and peroneal tendonitis. Other injuries include Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia, which is a common injury for those who kick.

The best way to prevent a severe ankle sprain or tear is by stretching properly before you begin your workout. Another way to avoid injury is to increase the strength of your muscles in this area. It’s important to know that a severe injury can occur if you don’t stretch properly or if your muscles aren’t strong enough to handle the stress of your workout.

If you’re going to compete in MMA, it’s essential that you know how to prevent injuries that can limit your ability to compete or even end your career prematurely.

Section: 4. Wrist Injuries and Issues

Wrist injuries are a common problem for both amateur and professional mixed martial arts fighters. The wrist is one of the most vulnerable and easily injured areas on a fighter’s body because it is used in every aspect of fighting, from stand up to ground fighting. A serious wrist injury, like a broken wrist, can end a fight or a career.

One of the worst aspects of a broken wrist is how long it takes to heal. The bones in your wrist are held together by ligaments that suffer the same damage as the bone itself when you break your wrist. This means that it can take months, even years, to recover from a broken wrist if you don’t take the right precautions.

A lot of fighters complain about the pain in the wrist. Some of them may need surgery. It is important to know that this injury can be avoided by proper training and good habits when you spar and fight.

Here are 2 of the most common wrist injuries for MMA fighters, as well as some extra to be aware of:

1) Torn Ligament– This is a common strain that happens when you overextend your wrist or twist it the wrong way. This can happen during practice or in a fight. You might feel a sharp pain and notice swelling later on. You might not be able to move your wrist normally. If you feel tingling in your hand or fingers, you should see a doctor right away. This could mean nerve damage or even another injury.

2) Muscle Strain– Muscle strain is similar to tendonitis, except it is caused by an overuse rather than an injury from one particular event. These injuries can occur during training or when you’re out fighting. The best way to prevent this injury is to make sure that you stretch before and after each workout and don’t work out more than once a day if possible. Resting will also help with muscle strain and allow your muscles time

Some more to watch out for:

Wrist Sprain

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Wrist Fractures

Wrist Dislocation

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury (UCL)

Posterior Impingement Syndrome (PIS)

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendinitis (ECU) Rupture

DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis or Thumb Impingement Syndrome

Section: 5. Back Injuries

Five years ago I would have told you that the most common injuries for grapplers were to the fingers and the shoulders. However, as BJJ and MMA training has become more popular, coaches and athletes have been taking care of the smaller joints in the hands and elbows better than ever before, and we are now seeing an increase in back injuries.

Constant repetition of chokes and takedowns, and even taking punches puts a lot of stress on the back and neck. In addition, spending all day hunched over a computer screen or driving with poor posture also puts additional stress on these areas which can lead to injury in grappling athletes such as BJJ and Wrestling, which an MMA fighter would train both of.

Most MMA fighters and anyone who has been in a fight of any sort knows the pain that comes with a back injury. By far one of the most common injuries, back injuries are usually caused by a strike or fall onto the spine.

Treating back injuries is important because they often cause long term harm to your physical health.

Backs are complicated things, and unfortunately for athletes, the training that goes into MMA is not always good for the back. Sometimes it’s the training itself that hurts the back, but sometimes it’s just how the body reacts to that type of training.

Avoiding back injuries takes a lot of discipline, but it’s something that’s worth it in order to stay in the sport as long as possible. Here are some signs to look out for if you think your back is hurting too much and some suggestions on what to do if it is. Here are 2 injuries can occur with MMA training and fighting:

1. Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when one of the discs between your vertebrae ruptures, causing them to push outwards and sometimes tear through the protective outer casing of bone and tissue that surrounds it. The fluid inside of the disc leaks out and causes pressure on the surrounding nerves and muscles, resulting in severe pain. This injury can be extremely difficult to treat because it can cause irreversible damage to your spinal cord, or even paralysis if you are unlucky enough for it to happen.

2. Spinal Fracture

This particular injury can be very dangerous as well but is often less severe than a herniated disc depending on where in the spine it occurs. A spinal fracture results from trauma to both the front and rear aspects of the vertebrae, where they meet at the spinal column.

Section: 6. Knee Injuries

Common knee injuries for MMA fighters include patellar tendinopathy and patellar tendonitis, ACL rupture, strained ligaments in the knee, cartilage damage and meniscus tear. For this section, we’ll focus on patellar tendinopathy and patellar tendonitis as they are the most common knee injuries among fighters.

Tips To Avoid These Injuries:

1) Strengthen your lower body muscles

2) Stretch your quads/hamstrings before training/competing

3) Warm-up thoroughly before training/competing

4) Know when to back off during a rolling session

Knee ligaments are the soft tissue structures that connect bone to bone in your knee joint. These ligaments keep the bones from moving too far or too fast in relation to each other and help stabilize your knee. Knee ligament injuries are the most common injuries in martial arts, and one of the most common injuries in sports overall.

A torn ACL is a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which occurs when there is too much pressure on the knee. The ACL supports the inside of your knee and keeps it from moving forward when you bend your leg. A torn ACL is especially disabling because once it’s torn, it doesn’t heal back together.

Symptoms: Knee pain and swelling

Treatment: Knee brace, physical therapy, crutches, surgery (only as a last resort)

Prevention: Warm up before activity, stretch regularly, strengthen muscles around knee joint

Section: 7. Toe/Foot Injuries

Let’s face it, MMA is a tough sport. With such a focus on your footwork and balance, any kind of injury to your toes or feet can dramatically impact your performance in the ring.

Torn toenails are some of the most common injuries that MMA fighters experience, and they’re also quite painful. Toe injuries often occur due to improper footwear. If you’re wearing shoes that are too small or don’t fit correctly, this can cause blisters or even cause your toe to get pressed up against the front of your shoe. If you feel pain or discomfort in your toes, see a podiatrist immediately before it gets worse.

Your big toe is often susceptible to injury because it bears a lot of weight when you walk and run. It’s important to strengthen the muscles directly around your big toe so that you can support yourself during training and fighting without causing damage to the joint.

It’s also wise to wear shoes with extra padding for your toes when you train, especially if you spar with other people who are kicking and punching at full force. During training, apply athletic tape overtop of any exposed bones on your foot to help prevent injury from another fighter’s foot colliding with it.

NOTE: The content provided is for informational use only. It is not a substitute for professional insurance guidance or medical advice.

Any questions? Looking for some kind of combat sports cover? Feel free to contact us at team@combatsportsinsurance.com.au or fill out our form!

Check back soon for part 2!