Fighters who quickly reduce weight earlier than bouts are at a better threat of struggling concussions or being misdiagnosed with head trauma, researchers have revealed for the primary time.
Greater than 60 per cent of athletes in fight sports activities like boxing and blended martial arts (MMA) revealed their signs had been worse after dehydrating themselves to make stringent weight lessons earlier than contests.
The controversial methods see opponents cease ingesting water and endure lengthy durations in saunas to quickly drop weight.
MMA athletes reported concussion severity to be 40 per cent increased in comparison with different sports activities, notably boxing — believed to be as a result of mixture of placing and make contact with with the bottom.
The examine by teachers from St Mary’s College, the College of Essex, and Swansea College comes after a string of tragedies linked to weight cuts, with some athletes even dying within the try to realize a perceived aggressive edge, by competing in a smaller weight class.
They discovered that as opponents dramatically dehydrate themselves to satisfy stringent weight lessons, the related signs might ‘muddy the waters’ of baseline concussion testing, because of comparable signs.
It is because the signs of hypohydration — the place opponents enter a water deficit — match concussive indicators, reminiscent of dizziness, complications, and lethargy.
This examine has kickstarted additional probes into the neurological implications of speedy weight reduction and the researchers have referred to as on governing our bodies to test fighters’ hydration ranges earlier than fights.
Researcher Nasir Uddin, from St Mary’s College, stated: “This examine reveals that present concussion testing doesn’t account for the crossover of signs from being dehydrated, and is probably placing fighters in danger.
“Not solely is slicing weight by means of dehydration in and of itself harmful, but it surely would possibly truly exacerbate concussion signs and, much more concerningly, means medical professionals may very well misdiagnose it.
“Going ahead, governing our bodies ought to guarantee hydration and baseline concussion signs are taken under consideration earlier than and after bouts.”
The examine is printed within the Medical Journal of Sports activities Drugs and surveyed greater than 130 nameless athletes representing six fight sports activities, all aged 18 or above and had beforehand reduce weight.
It additionally found that 65 per cent of the fighters had an expertise of a weight reduce “not going to plan,” struggling a scarcity of vitality, power, energy, coordination or elevated susceptibility to being ‘rocked’ throughout a bout.
This implies the damaging apply might not supply a aggressive benefit.
Dr Jamie Tallent, from the College of Essex, stated: “That is maybe essentially the most shocking discovering that not solely are weight cuts harmful — they depart fighters at a drawback most of the time and will exacerbate the dangers of being additional injured.”
Story Supply:
Supplies offered by College of Essex. Be aware: Content material could also be edited for model and size.
