Korean J Sports Med.  2024 Jun;42(2):105-112. 10.5763/kjsm.2024.42.2.105.

Severe Injuries in Elite Korean Male Wrestlers: A Comparison Study between Wrestling Styles

• Yoo S
• Yoon S
• Song M

• KMID: 2556275
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2024.42.2.105

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to examine the experience of severe knee, shoulder, and ankle injuries in elite Korean male wrestlers, focusing on a comparison between Greco-Roman (GR) and freestyle (FS) wrestling.
Methods
A total of 90 wrestlers (46 GR and 44 FS aged 24.8±3.7 years) who participated in the national team selection tournament voluntarily participated in this study, selected by random sampling. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on severe injuries to the knee, shoulder, and ankle that resulted in a time loss of ≥3 weeks.
Results
Approximately 41% of all participants experienced severe injuries to the knee, 21% to the shoulder, and 30% to the ankle. FS wrestlers were significantly more likely to experience severe knee injuries than GR wrestlers (p＜0.001), and they tended to require more time to return to play. Significant differences in specific maneuvers that caused severe knee (p＜0.001), shoulder (p=0.011), and ankle (p=0.002) injuries were observed by wrestling style.
Conclusion
The current findings indicate that the patterns of severe injuries in wrestling may vary by wrestling style, emphasizing the importance of developing wrestling style-specific injury prevention and management strategies.

Keyword

Wrestling; Knee Injuries; Shoulder Injuries; Ankle Injuries; Return to Play

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