Prevalence of sport injuries in Olympic combat sports: a cross-sectional study examining one Olympic period.

The study shows that there are important differences between "punching and kicking" and "throwing" martial arts in terms of specific injury types. In judo and wrestling, the injuries are more likely to affect the joints (knee and shoulder). Therefore, injury prevention these sports should focus on strength training of the muscles surrounding the joints and on defensive reactionary movements to avoid dangerous biomechanical joint angles. In "punching and kicking" sports, injuries of the hands and feet, due to the large impact forces of strikes and kicks, could be reduced by improved protective equipment on hands and feet.