Lower Extremity Risk Factors in Iranian Adolescent Taekwondo Players

Abstract

Purpose: Taekwondo is a martial art and contact sport in which the athletes’ goal is to strike the opponent with maximal force. This fact exposes taekwondo practitioners to the permanent risk of injuries. Therefore, the current prospective study aimed to investigate the internal risk factors of lower extremity injuries in the adolescent male taekwondo players. Methods: In total, 60 adolescent taekwondo players of Iran Premier League voluntarily participated in this research. Before league commencement, navicular drop, Q angle, knee hyperextension angle, the dorsiflexion/plantarflexion range of motion, hamstring flexibility, and their dynamic balance were measured. Then, the injuries of these taekwondo players were recorded during the study time. Results: The injury incidence rate was 7.9 per 1000 hours of exposure (95% confidence interval, 5.33-10.40). The logistic regression analysis data indicated a significant relationship between the Q angle and injuries incidence rate (odds ratio=1.33, P=0.031). The taekwondo players whose Q angles were >14.5 degrees were 1.33 times more prone to lower limb injury. However, no significant relationship was observed between the other risk factors of the study cases and injuries incidence.  Conclusion: Regarding the research findings, the Q angle could predict lower limb injuries in the studied taekwondo players. Therefore, it is suggested that this index be considered in the preparticipation evaluation process and preventive strategies.