540041
research-article2014
CPJXXX10.1177/0009922814540041Clinical PediatricsWells
Brief Report
Youth Mixed Martial Arts: Time to Regulate
Clinical Pediatrics 2015, Vol. 54(3) 282 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0009922814540041 cpj.sagepub.com
Joseph J. Wells, MD, FAAP1
In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement recommending that pediatricians vigorously oppose boxing for any child or adolescent because of the risk of head and facial injuries; at that time, 18 000 youth under 19 years had registered with USA Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing.1 We queried whether those recommendations also applied to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in children.2 Youth MMA, also known as Pankration, forbids blows above the neck. Unfortunately, they still occur. MMA, which combines boxing and wrestling, became popular with the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. Televising of matches as well as weekly coverage in USA Today and updates on sports radio talk shows have helped promote it. ESPN estimates youth participation in the millions.3 In 2007, we reported that an 8-year-old female had sustained a head injury in a MMA match, and we presented the number of studios in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona that offered youth MMA classes.4 A second patient, a 14-year old female, recently presented 2 weeks after sustaining a concussion following a blow to the head during a match. She was not examined after the injury, but after a brief rest was asked if she would like to continue the round. She ultimately quit for good after becoming dizzy. Neither she nor her opponent were wearing headgear and there were no medical personnel on-site. The United States Fight League (USFL), an organization that focuses on Youth MMA in America, states in article XI of its rulebook that “either a certified trainer, nurse or doctor be present during matches per state law.”5 They also stress the importance of wearing head protection. Unfortunately, no state has adopted these rules into law except California (Assembly Bill 1186). The California State Athletic Agency has initiated steps to enforce the law. Physicians who care for children and adolescents should advise parents and patients of the risks of MMA, especially head trauma. Unlike many high schools that administer preconcussion baseline testing and subsequent retesting postconcussion, and where the presence of qualified medical supervision is required, MMA
matches often occur in studios or gyms where safety rules may be lax. Respected pediatric organizations should recommend that youth under a certain age not participate, and state legislatures need to mandate the regulation of youth MMA so our children receive the protection and supervision they deserve. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
References 1. American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Sports Medicine And Fitness; Canadian Paediatric Society, Healthy Active Living and Sports Medicine Committee, Purcell L, LeBlanc CM. Policy statement—Boxing participation by children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2011;128:617-623. 2. Wells JJ, Wells JM. Can boxing recommendations apply to other related sports? Pediatrics. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/letters?first-index=608&hits=10&days= &submit=Go#pediatrics_el_51647. Published September 8, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2014. 3. Keown T. The kid gloves come on: the next generation is growing up with UFC aspirations. ESPN the Magazine; December 25, 2012. 4. Wells JJ, Wells JM. Mixed martial warts. J Trauma. 2010;69:479. 5. United States Fight League. Pankration, Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts rulebook. http://www.fightleague.org/ uploads/2014_Rulebook__.pdf. Accessed June 6, 2014.
1
University of Arizona School of Medicine–Phoenix, AZ, USA
Corresponding Author: Joseph J. Wells, MVP Kids Care, 4700 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85031, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from cpj.sagepub.com at GEORGETOWN UNIV MED CTR on May 24, 2015
research-article2014
CPJXXX10.1177/0009922814540041Clinical PediatricsWells
Brief Report
Youth Mixed Martial Arts: Time to Regulate
Clinical Pediatrics 2015, Vol. 54(3) 282 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0009922814540041 cpj.sagepub.com
Joseph J. Wells, MD, FAAP1
In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement recommending that pediatricians vigorously oppose boxing for any child or adolescent because of the risk of head and facial injuries; at that time, 18 000 youth under 19 years had registered with USA Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing.1 We queried whether those recommendations also applied to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in children.2 Youth MMA, also known as Pankration, forbids blows above the neck. Unfortunately, they still occur. MMA, which combines boxing and wrestling, became popular with the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. Televising of matches as well as weekly coverage in USA Today and updates on sports radio talk shows have helped promote it. ESPN estimates youth participation in the millions.3 In 2007, we reported that an 8-year-old female had sustained a head injury in a MMA match, and we presented the number of studios in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona that offered youth MMA classes.4 A second patient, a 14-year old female, recently presented 2 weeks after sustaining a concussion following a blow to the head during a match. She was not examined after the injury, but after a brief rest was asked if she would like to continue the round. She ultimately quit for good after becoming dizzy. Neither she nor her opponent were wearing headgear and there were no medical personnel on-site. The United States Fight League (USFL), an organization that focuses on Youth MMA in America, states in article XI of its rulebook that “either a certified trainer, nurse or doctor be present during matches per state law.”5 They also stress the importance of wearing head protection. Unfortunately, no state has adopted these rules into law except California (Assembly Bill 1186). The California State Athletic Agency has initiated steps to enforce the law. Physicians who care for children and adolescents should advise parents and patients of the risks of MMA, especially head trauma. Unlike many high schools that administer preconcussion baseline testing and subsequent retesting postconcussion, and where the presence of qualified medical supervision is required, MMA
matches often occur in studios or gyms where safety rules may be lax. Respected pediatric organizations should recommend that youth under a certain age not participate, and state legislatures need to mandate the regulation of youth MMA so our children receive the protection and supervision they deserve. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
References 1. American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Sports Medicine And Fitness; Canadian Paediatric Society, Healthy Active Living and Sports Medicine Committee, Purcell L, LeBlanc CM. Policy statement—Boxing participation by children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2011;128:617-623. 2. Wells JJ, Wells JM. Can boxing recommendations apply to other related sports? Pediatrics. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/letters?first-index=608&hits=10&days= &submit=Go#pediatrics_el_51647. Published September 8, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2014. 3. Keown T. The kid gloves come on: the next generation is growing up with UFC aspirations. ESPN the Magazine; December 25, 2012. 4. Wells JJ, Wells JM. Mixed martial warts. J Trauma. 2010;69:479. 5. United States Fight League. Pankration, Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts rulebook. http://www.fightleague.org/ uploads/2014_Rulebook__.pdf. Accessed June 6, 2014.
1
University of Arizona School of Medicine–Phoenix, AZ, USA
Corresponding Author: Joseph J. Wells, MVP Kids Care, 4700 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85031, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from cpj.sagepub.com at GEORGETOWN UNIV MED CTR on May 24, 2015
