Sparring – A medical implication – Part 3

October 18th, 2007 at 22:23 · Filed Under Injuries, Karate, Medical, Sports 

To continue from previous topic here and here. Now, let us focus on injuries in children. Children suffers greater risk of injuries than adult because they are in their tender growing age. Children and adults share the same risk for injury of the bones. However, child’s bones are subject to a unique injury called growth plate fracture. Growth plate fracture requires immediate medical attention because long-term consequences may include limbs that are crooked or of unequal length.

What is growth plate?

Growth plate or physis is an area of developing bone tissue often near the ends of long bones (such as femur), between the widened part of the shaft of the bone or the metaphysis and the end of the bone or the epiphysis.

The long bones of the body do not grow from center outward, instead, it grows at each end of the bone around the growth plate. The growth plate is the last portion of the bone to ossify or harden, which causes it susceptible to fracture. Because muscles and bones develop a different speeds, a child’s bones are weaker than the surrounding connective tissues or ligaments.

When a child is practicing free sparring or jiyu kumite in sports karate (or Tae Kwon Do) for example, the constant body bouncing introduces stress every each time the child landed on the ground. This may cause or retard the growth of the bones by injuring the growth plate. The child’s bones may become crooked due to the repetitive stress which the bones have to withstand.

Excessive kicking motion will further weaken or injure the already weak connective tissues or ligaments mentioned earlier. Take mawashi-geri or roundhouse kick for example, when the child misses the target, his/her leg will snap in the air. Without hitting a target, the momentum of the kick cannot be transferred and thus snapping of the leg will injure the knee by absorbing the momentum of the kick. All these injuries are long-term.

Children’s bones heal faster than adult’s. This gives two important consequences. First, it is important for a child with injury to see a doctor as quickly as possible to receive proper medical treatment before it starts to heal. Ideally to see an orthopedic particularly if manipulation to align the bone is necessary. Second, the immobilization period required for healing is shorter than adult.

Risk Factors

Who is at risk?

  • Children near the end of their growth period are particularly vulnerable compared to children of other age.
  • Boys’ risks are twice the girls’.
  • More than one third of growth plate injuries occur in competitive sports.
  • About 20% of growth plate fractures occur during recreational activities such as biking or skateboarding.

Are you willing to subject your children to such injuries for participating sparring or kumite and suffer long-term effects for their entire lives?

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Comments

19 Responses to “Sparring – A medical implication – Part 3”

  • Doris Chua on October 18th, 2007 23:15 1

    Hi Adrian,

    First, your blog looks very nice and I am really enjoying reading your articles. I like your articles. They are very informative.

    I am surfing the Internet for information on karate and tae kwon do training for my 6-year-old son and I stumble on your blog.

    After reading your articles about sports injuries, I am getting a little skeptical to send my son for martial arts training. But I still want to send my son for martial arts training. What do you suggest? Wushu? Wushu does not have sparring though as far as I know.

    What you say about children’s bones is very insightful. I really appreciate your effort and I feel lucky to have read it before sending my son for training.

    Doris

  • Adrian Hoe on October 18th, 2007 23:30 2

    Hello Doris,

    Thanks for dropping by my blog and I am glad you enjoy reading here. I am also glad to hear that my articles on sports injuries have alerted some people like you.

    Well, you still can send your child to karate or tae kwon do training but tell the instructor that you do not want your child to involve in any sparring. But I think it is very difficult for these instructors to accept your instruction. First of all, sparring is one of their test syllabus! Forget about sending your child if they cannot compromise with your request.

    Some wushu training includes San-shou. It is free sparring. Find out more with your wushu instructor.

    I wish you good luck seeking out a good training for your child.

  • Doris Chua on October 18th, 2007 23:59 3

    Adrian,

    Thanks for your advice. I will check them out.

    By the way, are you a karate master yourself? What do you think about your training?

    Doris

  • Allison on October 19th, 2007 0:57 4

    Hi Doris,

    Instead of letting Adrian to describe his own training, I as the third party would rate him an excellent karate sensei in Malaysia.
    I joined few karate styles before I met Adrian, and I experienced the sports karate training and the modern sparring competitions. I was not aware of these health issues until I joined his training.
    If you would like your son to gain more knowledge such as the karate philosophy, human physiology and biomechanics other than the karate training; instead of just train to be fit in the fighting ring, I strongly recommend Adrian, two thumbs up for him. ;)

  • Jenna on October 19th, 2007 5:44 5

    Hi! Thanks so much for the link. I will be adding your blog to my blogroll as well. I really like your blog…layout and content are great!! Thanks again for stopping by my blog and for the link!!

  • PRK on October 19th, 2007 5:58 6

    Hi,

    I am a medical doctor specialized in children’s orthopedic. I am running a clinic in the state of Washington. Adrian’s research is correct.

    Over the years, I have treated many growth plate fracture cases in my clinic. Over 40% of injuries are related to martial arts training. About 30% of these injuries are caused by sparring both directly or indirectly.

    I hope parents sending their children to martial arts exercise caution and do not let the children involve in excessive sparring. Light sparring may be good but the risk is still there.

    Good work, Adrian!

    P.R.Krishnan

  • Adrian Hoe on October 19th, 2007 9:27 7

    Dr. Krishnan,

    Thank you for dropping by my blog. It’s really good to have some statistics to support the fact.

    I hope my blog has given you joy reading it.

  • Doris Chua on October 19th, 2007 10:08 8

    Hi Adrian,

    So, you are an instructor for Uechi-Ryu Zankai? How do you conduct your training? Do you do any sparring? Any dojo in KL? Can I come to take a look?

    Doris

  • Adrian Hoe on October 19th, 2007 21:48 9

    Hello Doris,

    I’m sorry. We have no dojo in KL at the moment.

    Yes, you’re welcome to come to our dojo at Bukit Beruang, Melaka to take a look at our training. Please follow up the news at http://uechiryu.org.my for the opening of our new dojo.

  • Adrian Hoe on October 20th, 2007 10:20 10

    Hi Jenna,

    Thanks for dropping by and I’m glad that you enjoy reading my blog. Thanks for the link too.

  • eric phua on October 20th, 2007 13:56 11

    Hi Adrian,

    I enjoy reading your article about injuries very much. It is very informative but shocking. I have two children taking up tae kwon do training. Both of them always complain about joint (knee and ankle) pain. I think I am going to stop their training and take them to an orthopedic for check up.

    Thanks for the information.

    It’s very rare to find information relating to martial arts training and injuries and potential risks! You are exceptional. Keep up your good work.

    eric

  • Adrian Hoe on October 20th, 2007 14:43 12

    Eric,

    That’s a wise decision. Do not procrastinate to consult a doctor. Your children may have suffered long-term effect from the injuries. Seriously, things can get worse.

    Thank for dropping by. Enjoy your stay here. And good luck, I hope no permanent damage on your kids.

  • Jay B.Simha on October 22nd, 2007 12:58 13

    Allowing children to spar without preparation is not only stupidity but also a crime IMHO. Then what is the required preparation for sparring? At least in our practice any body below second degree practice is not allowed to practice Jiyu kumite.
    Reason: Ability to receive pain at both macro-muscular (chest, back, arms, thighs) and areas and some important bone structures (like shin, forearms, ribs) has to be improved by proper training under a knowledgeable instructor. For children, this type of training is not recommended. When a child is not prepared to strategise and tactically neutralize the physical attacks, it results in extreme damage.
    I fully agree with Adrian against putting children in kumite. They have to be only taught fitness and mental strength to achieve the intentions, rather than put them to fight.

  • Seizan on October 25th, 2007 13:53 14

    Hello,

    Speaking strictly for the Zankai, as karate instructors it is not our job to provide trauma and pain to children (or to any student). We do not put our students in a position where they are potentially in danger of being injured. Pain and injury slow or stop the learning process and are counterproductive to training. Injured students delay returning to the dojo, or discontinue training completely.

    We undertake teaching students how to avoid trauma and pain, or at least handle it safely and strongly when it comes their way. One doesn’t go to a dojo and, as part of the training, get injured learning how not to get injured! Learning how to safely avoid being injured in an aggressive situation is the chief purpose for most of our Zankai training. Students learn more quickly and enthusiastically when they are taught techniques that demonstrably keep them safe and unharmed – at the aggressor’s expense.

    There are strong and dependable old-style ways to practice this kind of protection without getting or giving injury to a partner. One won’t find it described or explained in a blog entry, a website, or an essay, sorry. It can’t be taught that way.

    Regards,

    Seizan

  • The concerned parent on October 26th, 2007 10:55 15

    Hi Adrian,

    My wife and I found your website and we were shocked to read about injuries in children doing sparring in karate. Our 6-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter are training Shotokan karate for 2 years now and always complaining of pain at both ankles and elbows.

    We talked to their instructor but he said it is normal to have pain as their muscle and bones are growing stronger. The pain will disappear by themselves in time. We are very doubtful with his statement and now we are very cautious about their pain after reading your articles.

    Sometimes, my daughter’s left knee will get swollen without any apparent reason.

    We are taking them to an orthopedic to make sure.

    Thanks for your information. It is very useful for parents like us who are in doubt.

    The concerned parent

  • eric phua on November 12th, 2007 19:58 16

    Dear Adrian,

    My children suffer from mild achilles tendonitis. Prognosis is to have a lot of rest and avoid repetitive jumping in sparring and strain onto the tendon. The pain should be over in a month time.

    I really thank you for your informative blog entry about sparring and injury.

    eric

  • Adrian Hoe on November 13th, 2007 10:31 17

    Hello Eric,

    I am glad you took your children to a doctor. I hope nothing too serious and permanent happened on your children.

    I am really happy that my posts have helped and prevented further damage.

  • eric phua on December 1st, 2007 11:21 18

    Hi Adrian,

    My children has recovered from the pain they were suffering. Once again, thanks.

    I spoke to my neighbours the other day and told them about my children’s condition and your blog. They were quite surprised. I hope I can do some part to help other parents to realize about injuries in martial arts training.

    What do you think about Tai-chi?

    eric

  • Adrian Hoe on January 11th, 2008 10:11 19

    Hi Eric,

    Sorry for the late reply. I’d overlook your comment. A recent commotion created by a young Taijiquan practitioner has reminded me to reply your comment.

    Taijiquan is good. But it all depends who is the teacher. There are many hard core Taijiquan masters who are leading students on the mystical path of Taijiquan and Qi. Find a master who can explain the concepts with modern scientific facts instead of superstitious craps. This rule applies to all other martial arts as well.

    Good luck.

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