This study aimed to identify the incidence of injury and its characteristics in Korean youth and collegiate Taekwondo athletes during 2021 and to provide a suggestion regarding injury incidence. A total of 183 athletes (95 youth and 88 collegiate athletes) who were registered with the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) participated. The research was based on the injury questionnaire developed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The questionnaire consists of a total of seven items, including four items related to demographic characteristics and three items related to injuries (locations of injury, types of injury, and causes of injury). A frequency analysis was performed to identify the injury characteristics. Additionally, the injury incidence rate (IIR) was calculated based on 1000 athletic exposures (AEs) during 2021. The IIRs for one recent year (2021) showed 4.43/1000 AEs and 3.13/1000 AEs in youth and collegiate Taekwondo athletes, respectively. The frequency analysis showed that finger (youth: 17.3%, collegiate: 14.6%), contusion (youth: 25.3%, collegiate: 23.8%), and contact with other athletes (youth: 57.6%, collegiate: 54.4%) ranked the highest in terms of the locations of injury, types of injury, and causes of injury, respectively. A continuing injury tracking system can play a key role in accumulating big data for identifying risk factors and developing interventions to reduce injury in Taekwondo sparring.

Background and Objectives: Studies analyzing lower extremity alignment (LEA) LEA among taekwondo subdisciplines athletes are lacking. This study compared LEA in the dominant and nondominant legs intaekwondo athletes. Materials and Methods: Twelve measurements of LEA were analyzed for 157 athletes (63 sparring, 50 demonstration, and 44 poomsae athletes) registered with the Korea Taekwondo Association. LEA was measured in the standing, supine, and prone positions using alignment application, a goniometer, a bubble inclinometer, a height gage, and a palpation meter. Results: The analysis revealed that the dominant leg of poomsae athletes showed greater genu valgum alignment than that of sparring athletes (p < 0.01), whereas the dominant leg of sparring athletes showed greater rearfoot varum alignment than that of demonstration athletes (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the nondominant leg of poomsae athletes showed greater genu valgum alignment than that of sparring and demonstration athletes (p < 0.01), whereas the nondominant leg of sparring athletes showed greater rearfoot varum alignment than that of demonstration athletes (p < 0.01). In addition, demonstration athletes had better forefoot varus alignment than poomsae athletes (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study revealed that LEA characteristics vary among taekwondo athletes according to their subdiscipline. The results of this study would help in designing training programs tailored to each subdiscipline that would best address their LEA characteristics and help to prevent injuries.

PURPOSE: To compare lower extremity alignment in young taekwondo-sparring athletes according to sex and leg dominance.METHODS: Ninety-five young Taekwondo sparring athletes participated in this study. Additionally, 12 lower extremity alignment measurements (hip anteversion, Q-angle, tibiofemoral angle, genu recurvatum, navicular height, rearfoot and forefoot alignment, pelvic tilt, and tibial torsion) were obtained. An independent t-test was used to determine the differences in lower-extremity alignment based on sex and leg dominance.RESULTS: Standing and supine Q-angles, standing and supine tibiofemoral angles, genu recurvatum, and rearfoot alignment (prone) differed significantly between dominant and non-dominant legs, with variations observed by sex (p<.05). For the non-dominant leg, significant sex-related differences were observed in standing and supine Q-angles, standing and supine tibiofemoral angles, genu recurvatum, as well as rearfoot (prone) and forefoot alignment. Hip anteversion also differed with leg dominance (p<.05).CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that women may be at a higher risk of knee and ankle injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament tears and lateral ankle sprains, compared to men due to greater deformities in lower extremity alignment which could negatively impact the skills and movements required for taekwondo sparring. Therefore, trainers and clinicians should consider implementing prevention programs to reduce injuries to specific body parts among women according to their alignment outcomes. In addition, evaluation of lower-extremity alignment is essential to minimize potential injuries.

Mi-ock Han, Seong-dae Ahn, Su-jin-Choi, Seong-jun Cho, Hyung-pil Jun. KJSM 2025;43:265-73. https://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2025.43.4.265

PURPOSE: To identify the characteristics of injuries among male collegiate athletes in combat and ball sports during the 2021 season and to propose strategies for injury prevention.METHODS: A total of 143 participants (67 combat and 76 ball sports athletes) registered with the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee in 2021 participated in this study. Each athlete responded to a questionnaire based on the injury survey developed by the International Olympic Committee. The questionnaire collected information on four demographic characteristics and three aspects of sports injuries: injury location, type, and cause. The Chi-squared test was used to compare injuries and determine the association between the two types of sports.RESULTS: The practice injuries and athlete exposures (AEs) recorded were 328 and 141,076 in combat sports and 384 and 142,054 in ball sports, respectively. The injury incidence rates (IRs) were 2.14/1,000 AEs (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89-2.39) and 2.02/1,000 AEs (95% CI, 1.75-2.29) in combat and ball sports, respectively. Furthermore, the most common location, type, and cause of injury associated with both combat and ball sports were the ankles (combat: n=105, 34.8%; ball: n=60, 20.9%), sprain/ligamentous ruptures (combat: n=83, 26.4%; ball: n=96, 28.3%), and overtraining (combat: n=133, 41.7%; ball: n=94, 27.3%), respectively. Combat and ball sports were significantly associated in terms of injury location (Chi-squared =334.771, p<.001), type (Chi-squared=205.099, p<.001), and cause (Chi-squared=40.278, p<.05).CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, implementing an injury surveillance system is crucial for identifying risk factors and developing strategies to prevent injuries in both combat and ball sports. Additionally, coaches, supervisors, and trainers can incorporate specific exercise programs into their training regimens to strengthen anatomy frequently affected by injuries.