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- Title
Thigh muscle strains in professional sumo wrestlers.
- Authors
Shimizu, S.; Tateishi, T.; Nagase, T.; Nakagawa, T.; Tsuchiya, M.
- Abstract
Trauma of the lower extremities occurs frequently in sumo wrestling. Thigh muscle strain is a common trauma in professional sumo wrestlers. Between August 1983 and May 2009, 49 wrestlers (57 limbs) were diagnosed with thigh muscle strain and treated in our department. Mean values for their age, body height and weight were 21.2 years, 180.4cm, and 123.5kg, respectively. We studied the scene or mechanism at the time of the injury and the prognosis after these traumas. Fifteen limbs were injured in official sumo tournaments, 40 limbs in sumo exercises, and 2 limbs in other scenes. MRI was performed in 12 cases, and high signals, which suggest bleeding or hematoma, were observed at injured parts of muscles. Hamstring (39 limbs) was the most frequent site of thigh muscle strain, followed by quadriceps (9 limbs) and adductor muscle (8 limbs). The majority of hamstring injuries, 30 cases, were proximal hamstring strains. Most proximal hamstring strains occurred in hip flexion and knee extension position. The mechanism of proximal hamstring strain is thought to be eccentric contraction by overload of the pivoting foot since this injury occurs when wrestlers stand for force or throw. Adductor muscle strains were often referred from an extreme leg stretching exercise, the so-called "MATAWARI," and were remarkable among new apprentices. However, this exercise is very useful as stretch training of adductor muscles and hamstrings. All cases were treated conservatively and showed good prognosis. We permitted the start of stretching exercises and basic motions of sumo wrestling after acute pain and swelling had been resolved. The mean period of default was only 0.3 tournaments in all wrestlers, and therefore demotions in rank were minimized after injuries. Many wrestlers went up in the rankings after thigh muscle strains were cured.
- Subjects
LEG injuries; SUMO; HAMSTRING muscle injuries; THIGH; EXTREMITIES (Anatomy); WOUNDS &; injuries
- Publication
Japanese Journal of Clinical Sports Medicine / Nihon Rinsho Supotsu, 2010, Vol 18, Issue 3, p416
- ISSN
1346-4159
- Publication type
Article