Risk of cervical injuries in mixed martial arts.

BACKGROUND Mixed martial arts have rapidly succeeded boxing as the world's most popular full contact sport, and the incidence of injury is recognised to be high. OBJECTIVE To assess qualitatively and quantitatively the potential risk for participants to sustain cervical spine and associated soft tissue injuries. METHODS Four commonly performed manoeuvres with possible risks to the cervical spine were analysed with respect to their kinematics, and biomechanical models were constructed. RESULTS Motion analysis of two manoeuvres revealed strong correlations with rear end motor vehicle impact injuries, and kinematics of the remaining two suggested a strong risk of injury. Mathematical models of the biomechanics showed that the forces involved are of the same order as those involved in whiplash injuries and of the same magnitude as compression injuries of the cervical spine. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that there is a significant risk of whiplash injuries in this sport, and there are no safety regulations to address these concerns.