Musculoskeletal Pain and Training Characteristics Among Karate Athletes in Sri Lanka: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Karate is used as a sport and a self-defense technique. It provides physical exercises for the entire body.
Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in two karate clubs in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to compare the types of musculoskeletal pain and training habits of karate athletes.
Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out using a structured, pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire which included questions related to demographic data, types of musculoskeletal pain and details related to training. Their heights and weights were also measured. Karate athletes aged 18 to 44 years were recruited from two clubs in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka.
Results: Thirty-four athletes were recruited (mean age [SD] 27.2[7.3] years, males 91% [n=31]). Chronic pain (duration > 12 weeks) was present in 21 (62%), and among them, the lower back, knee and thigh were affected in 10 (48%), 7 (33%), and 5 (24%), respectively. Athletes without a chronic pain were included in the control group. There were 13 (38%) in the control group. Nineteen (91%) with chronic pain had previous injuries not fully rehabilitated. Athletes with chronic pain had significantly higher mean daily duration of warm-up (P = < 0.001), and training (P = 0.020), the time period involved in the sport (P= 0.008) and number of previous injuries (P = < 0.001), compared to the athletes in the control group.
Conclusions: Approximately two thirds of athletes were affected with chronic pain and more than ninety percent of them had previous injuries not completely rehabilitated. The most common site of chronic pain was lower back. The time involved in sport, training duration and the number of previous injuries were significantly higher in athletes with chronic pain.