Head Trauma
CONCUSSION
Let's Knock Out Brain Injuries in Boxing!
Concussion Symptoms
- Headache/Confusion
- Difficulty remembering
- Hard to pay attention
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Slow reaction time
- Double vision/blurriness
- Bothered by noise/light
- Feeling emotionally “down”
Why Report Your Symptoms?
Competing or sparring with concussion symptoms is dangerous. It can lead to a longer recovery and a delay in your return to action. In rare cases, repeated concussions in athletes can result in brain swelling or permanent damage to your brain. They can even be fatal.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have a Concussion?
- Don’t Hide It, Report It
- Get Checked Out
- Take Care of Your Brain
All concussions are serious. Don’t hide it. Report it. Take time to recover. It’s better to stop one match than your career.
This webpage is intended to provide general health care information. It is not intended to provide professional or medical advice and is an inadequate substitute for competent medical advice. You should always consult with your own medical provider about your health and medical questions.
Dehydration in Boxing
What is Dehydration?
Represents the excessive loss of body water
Causes of Dehydration
- Excessive Sweating
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Inadequate water intake
- Excessive Urination
Signs of Dehydration
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Sunken eyes
- Low urine output
Effects of Dehydration on the Boxer
- Decreased alertness
- Decreased concentration
- Slowed reaction time
- Increased tiredness or fatigue
- Headaches
- Impaired exercise performance
Tests for Dehydration
- Tenting of the skin (the skin remains elevated after being pulled up and released)
- Check urine Color
- Darker Urine indicates more dehydration
How to treat dehydration
- Replenish with oral fluids
- Fluid replacement with intravenous fluids (only in severe cases)
- Stop fluid loss
How to Prevent Dehydration in Boxing
- Avoid rapid weight loss
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid:
- Saunas
- Sweat suits
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Laxatives
Weight Cutting
Unhealthy and dangerous weight loss practices continue to be a serious problem in combat sports. One recent study found that 39% of MMA fighters were entering competition in a dehydrated state. Heat illness and death in athletes have already happened in the sports of wrestling and MMA. It’s been shown that excessive weight loss, rapid weight loss, and repeated cycling of weight gain/loss causes decreased performance, hormonal imbalance, decreased nutrition, and increased injury risk. See other life-threatening problems associated with improper weight loss and dehydration here.
Nutrition
Listed are helpful articles on nutrition from Nutrition.gov: