
According to injury databases, young boxers have the highest hospitalization rate among those participating in combat sports. Most commonly, they suffer from facial fractures and closed head injuries (concussions). A study of emergency department visits found 8,700 boxing injuries per year between 1990 and 2008. That's one emergency room visit per hour for 19 years! And injuries are on the rise.
While fractures are the most common injury overall, there is also a high risk of concussion, which are potentially far more dangerous in children than in adults because the brain is still developing. Repetitive blows to the head also put children at risk for structural brain injuries like bleeds, cognitive abnormalities and neurological deficits that can be permanent.
Boxing is a dangerous sport. With recent findings about the dangers of repetitive head trauma, parents should think very carefully about whether their child's participation is appropriate. There are numerous other combat sports, such as martial arts, that can provide a safer alternative while still promoting discipline and physical fitness.
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