INJURY PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN THE TRAINING OF COMBAT SPORTS ATHLETES: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/sasciencesv6n2-258Keywords:
Athletes, Combat Sports, Injury Prevention, Risk Factors, Sports TrainingAbstract
Combat sports present injury risks associated with the physical, technical, and biomechanical demands of different disciplines, making the adoption of preventive strategies during training essential. This study aimed to analyze scientific evidence regarding injury prevention strategies applied to the training of combat sports athletes. This integrative literature review adopted a descriptive design and qualitative approach, using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and SciELO databases. After applying the eligibility criteria, 14 studies published between 2017 and 2026 were included, covering disciplines such as judo, taekwondo, karate, and wrestling. The findings identified strategies related to muscle strengthening, neuromuscular warm-up, training load management, technical improvement, functional assessment, and preventive education. Cervical strengthening was associated with fewer injuries in the experimental group, while a structured warm-up program demonstrated a 34% reduction in severe injuries, although no significant decrease in overall injury incidence was observed. Associations were also identified between increased injury risk and factors such as fatigue, prolonged training sessions, early sports specialization, and inadequate execution of specific techniques. However, some studies assessed functional and biomechanical indicators without directly demonstrating injury reduction. It was concluded that injury prevention in combat sports requires an individualized and multifactorial approach, considering athletes' characteristics and the specific demands of each discipline. Further experimental investigations are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive strategies in reducing injury incidence and severity.
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