Page 56 - Safe Wrestling

Matej Ipavec

2. technique-specific and context-sensitive safeguards targeting take-
down and standing situations in which a substantial proportion of
injuries occur (Boden et al., 2002);
3. officiating and rule-enforcement strategies designed to reduce ex-
posure to dangerous actions and high-risk positions (Shadgan, Kon-
stantinou, et al., 2021); and
4. evidence-based weight-management reforms supported by epi-
demiological associations between rapid weight loss and increased
injury risk (Kim & Park, 2021).

At the same time, the comparative effectiveness of individual preven-
tion components remains difficult to determine because of substantial
heterogeneity in injury definitions, exposure metrics, surveillance sys-
tems, and study designs. This methodological variability supports the
adoption of bundled, pragmatic prevention frameworks rather than iso-
lated single-component interventions.

Conclusion
The evidence synthesised in this review confirms that wrestling is char-
acterised by a distinctive orthopaedic injury profile driven by high-
intensity, multiplanar contact, rapid positional transitions, and repeat-
ed exposure to torsional, compressive, and traction forces. Across com-
petition levels and rule sets, the anatomical regions most consistently
affected include the head and face, upper extremities (particularly the
shoulder-elbow complex), knee, and spine/neck complex. These injury
distributions closely reflect the biomechanical demands associated with
takedowns, throws, sprawls, hand fighting, and defensive bridging posi-
tions. Although many documented injuries are relatively minor – partic-
ularly superficial skin injuries and dermatological conditions – wrestling
nevertheless presents a clinically significant burden of ligamentous and
intra-articular trauma, including shoulder instability patterns, elbow lig-
ament injuries, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and meniscal
pathology. In addition, although less frequent, severe head and cervical-
spine injuries may have catastrophic consequences and therefore war-
rant particular preventive attention.
A consistent finding across epidemiological study designs is the strong
contextual dependence of injury risk. Injury incidence during competi-
tion substantially exceeds that observed during practice, while within-
match injury likelihood appears to increase during later stages of bouts.

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