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Models of Injury Occurrence, Prevention and Prediction

Models were subsequently compared to identify convergent princi-
ples, conceptual differences, and complementary strengths, with partic-
ular emphasis on their relevance for practical decision-making in sport
settings.

Combat Sport Perspective
Throughout the contribution, theoretical and practical implications are
interpreted with reference to wrestling and other combat sports. Particu-
lar attention is given to the distinctive features of these sports, including
opponent-dependent exposure, repeated high mechanical loading dur-
ing sport-specific actions, rapid transitions between positions, and the
interaction between technical execution and injury risk.
The combat-sport perspective is especially relevant because injury
mechanisms in wrestling frequently emerge under highly dynamic and
context-dependent conditions, where athlete behaviour, tactical decision-
making, fatigue, and physical contact jointly shape exposure and injury
likelihood. Consequently, conceptual models are discussed not only in
abstract terms, but also in relation to their applicability within the train-
ing and competition environments characteristic of combat sports.
Scope and Limitations
As a conceptual synthesis, this contribution does not aim to provide an
exhaustive systematic review of all existing injury models or predictive
approaches. Instead, it focuses on representative frameworks with strong
conceptual influence and practical utility within sports-injury preven-
tion research and practice.
The applicability and predictive performance of individual models
may vary substantially depending on the sport, athlete population, lev-
el of competition, and quality of available data. In addition, predictive
models in sports injury research remain sensitive to methodological lim-
itations, including inconsistent injury definitions, variability in exposure
measurement, and limited external validation. These limitations should
therefore be considered when interpreting the practical implications of
the presented frameworks, particularly within complex and highly vari-
able environments such as wrestling and other combat sports.

Results and Discussion
Epidemiological Model of Injury Occurrence
The epidemiological model was originally developed to investigate the
spread of infectious diseases; however, it has also proven highly useful for

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