Problems in health management of professional boxers in Japan
Open accessAbstract
Objective:To investigate whether the incidence of boxing accidents is higher in Japan than in other countries. Method:A nationwide survey of boxers was conducted. Results:A total of 632 boxers responded. Most Japanese boxers were relatively mature when they started boxing (mean starting age of 19.2 years). A high percentage of boxers was found three weight divisions higher than previously reported. Many boxers stated that losing weight was not a big problem. It was found that a punch that turns the head can cause serious physical damage, and it was clarified that only a simple punch, rather than accumulated damage from multiple punches, can cause cerebral concussion. Severe shock causing retrograde amnesia is very rare after a fight and disappears relatively quickly. Many additional symptoms are related to damage to the hearing organs, such as hearing difficulties, tinnitus, and vertigo, but these symptoms also resolve quickly. Many boxers experience memory disturbance, not just after a fight but in daily life. Conclusion:The approach to boxing has become more oriented towards the method of practice and scientific training, rather than psychological factors, which used to be emphasised.
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Cerebral concussion may develop after only one simple punch or as accumulated damage from multiple punches, and cognitive dysfunction is reported in most boxers.
“Cerebral concussion may develop after only one simple punch or as accumulated damage from multiple punches; cognitive dysfunction is reported in most boxers (36).”
From Pituitary Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Approach (2015) · cites this paper as [36]
The Abstract says a single punch can cause cerebral concussion, and Damage during a fight reports that 21.2% of boxers who had been knocked out said they collapsed after several punches. It does not establish accumulated damage as the cause of those concussions. The same section reports memory disturbances in 27.7% of boxers who had been knocked out, not cognitive dysfunction in most boxers. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Ohhashi, G., Tani, S., Murakami, S., Kamio, M., Abe, T., & Ohtuki, J.
- Affiliations
- Jikei University School of Medicine (JP)
- Nihon University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Ohhashi, G
- ORCID
- Tani, S
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 346-352
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- PMC
- PMC1724555
- OpenAlex
- W2138739181
- Semantic Scholar
- b0c7d59cb221dc158df098df951704959fa42063
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Nihon University
- Jikei University School of Medicine
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
- Keywords
- boxing injuries, professional boxers, concussion, head impact, weight loss, hearing damage, tinnitus, retrograde amnesia, memory impairment, health management
- MeSH terms
- Boxing, Feeding Behavior, Craniocerebral Trauma, Health Status, Humans, Japan, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Weight Loss
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