Nutrition in Combat Sports

9 Women in Combat Sports 143
personalities, increasing stigma due to medical safety concerns, [82, 83] and increasing
pressure from promoters and venues to make it more exciting to compete with
growing sports such as mixed martial arts. The involvement of women at the professional
level initially began as a promotional attraction for male boxing events. This
has resulted in many inexperienced female boxers being rushed through their amateur
or professional bout training period to fill spots in higher profile fight cards. [84]
The end result has been some severe mismatches in boxer quality, thus raising
concerns for increased injury risk. The more widespread interest in women’s boxing
has partially resulted from the “boxing-based” exercise boom. Boxing as exercise
has become more popular for both women and men due to health club fitness
programs and fitness videos. As a result of this exercise industry boxing focus and
the increased media coverage of women’s professional boxing, female boxing
participation is growing: USA Boxing women’s membership has grown from 340
in 1996 to over 750 in 2006. [85]
Injury-preventive measures have been in place for quite some time for male
boxers, especially in the amateur ranks. Almost all boxing associations require
amateurs to wear protective headgear and genitalia padding as well as lighter 10–12
oz gloves. [86] Bouts usually consist of shorter rounds (2 min or less) and less
rounds (three or less). The gloves are often marked on the end to designate the only
areas where punches can be scored, emphasizing boxing technique over brawling.
Some boxing governing bodies have been proactive in providing a safer environment
specifically for female boxers, especially mandating shorter and fewer rounds.
Another example is the Italian Boxing Federation, which has a strict set of criteria
for participation, including passing a pre-participation physical as well as
pre-competition and post-competition medical examinations focusing on the breast,
abdomen, and pelvis. [87] USA Boxing recommends annual physical examinations
to help monitor and identify any serious medical conditions. [86] Other common
rules include limiting or prohibiting punches to the breast and pelvic area, and strict
follow-up after knock downs or knockouts (KO).
The overall risk of injury in female boxing compared to their male counterparts
has been reported as being similar [87 ] or less.[ 88] Males typically have more
matches end in knockouts (KO) or technical knockouts (TKO), and thus are more
likely to sustain head trauma. [88– 90 ] A case report on a large subdural hematoma
in a female boxer emphasized that coaches and trainers should be very careful when
allowing males to spar or compete with females, as this may increase the risk of
head trauma, even with protective headgear in place. [84] USA Boxing only allows
male versus male and female versus female competition in sanctioned amateur
events. [86] The remainder of injury types for females in boxing are very similar to
males, and include facial contusions or lacerations, epistaxis, hand and wrist injuries,
and eye injuries. Breast and pelvic trauma and menstrual abnormalities have
been reported as absent or low in the few studies to date on female boxing, [87, 88]
possibly at least in part as a result of the protective rule changes and equipment, as
well as the close monitoring by the boxing governing bodies.
Medical coverage for female boxing requires a thorough knowledge of the
governing body rules, and the ability to care for mainly facial, head, and upper