Wrestling Injuries Guide
- March 22, 2022
- TFG Team
- Wrestling
Wrestling Injuries are one of the main challenges wrestlers face. It is not uncommon for wrestlers to get injured during their matches, and this can lead to serious problems.
In this post, we will take a look at some of the most common wrestling injuries, as well as how to prevent them. Get ready.
Table of Contents
Most Common Wrestling Injuries List
The most common wrestling injuries are strains and sprains, but more serious injuries can occur. Knee injuries, such as ACL tears, are not uncommon in wrestlers. Head injuries, including concussions, can also occur.
Wrestlers often suffer from “mat burn,” a condition caused by friction between the skin and the mat. This can lead to rashes, skin infections, and other problems.
neck injuries as well as ear and shoulder injuries can be common in the sport of wrestling.
Concussions and Head Injuries
Concussions are a common type of head injury in wrestlers. These injuries can occur when the wrestler is hit in the head, falls on his or her head, or collide with another wrestler.
Symptoms of a concussion include headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Concussions can range from mild to severe, and may require a wrestler to take time off from wrestling to recover.
Wrestlers who suffer multiple concussions may be at risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease.
CTE can cause symptoms such as memory loss, mood swings, and depression. There is no cure for CTE, but early diagnosis and treatment may help to slow its progression.
Wrestling Shoulder Injury
One of the most common shoulder injuries in wrestling is a rotator cuff tear. This injury can be caused by a fall onto the shoulder, or by repetitive overhead motions, such as those often used in amateur wrestling.
Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include pain and weakness in the shoulder, a difficulty raising the arm, and a popping or snapping sound when the shoulder is moved.
Treatment for a rotator cuff tear may include rest, ice, and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be needed.
Wrestling Knee Injuries
Wrestlers are at risk for a number of knee injuries, including ACL tears. This injury often occurs when the wrestler makes a sudden change in direction or lands on the knee after a jump.
Symptoms of an ACL tear include pain, swelling, and instability in the knee. Treatment may include rest, ice, and physical therapy. Surgery may also be necessary.
Wrestlers are also at risk for patellar tendinitis, a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the kneecap. Treatment for patellar tendinitis may include rest, ice, and physical therapy. Surgery is rarely needed.
Wrestling Neck Injuries
Wrestlers are at risk for neck injuries, including cervical spine fractures. This type of injury can occur when the wrestler is thrown to the ground and lands on his or her head.
Symptoms of a cervical spine fracture include pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms or legs. Treatment may include immobilization of the neck, surgery, and physical therapy.
Wrestling Ear Injuries
Wrestlers are also at risk for ear injuries, including cauliflower ear. This condition is caused by repeated trauma to the ear, such as from being punched or head-butted.
Symptoms of cauliflower ear include pain, swelling, and a deformity of the ear. Treatment may include draining the fluid from the ear, surgery, and physical therapy.
Elbow Injuries
Another common injury among wrestlers is an elbow injury. This can occur when the wrestler falls on his or her arm, or when the arm is hyperextended.
Symptoms of an elbow injury include pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the arm. Treatment may include ice, rest, and physical therapy. Surgery may be necessary in some cases.
High School Wrestling Injuries
High school wrestling exposes trainees to similar injuries types as those who compete at the collegiate or professional level. However, because they are still growing and developing, they may be more susceptible to injury.
Most common injuries in high school wrestling include strains and sprains, knee injuries, and head injuries.
Pro Wrestling Injuries
While injuries are common in professional wrestling, they are often not as serious as those seen in other sports. This is due to the fact that professional wrestlers are trained to “sell” their injuries, or make them look more dramatic than they actually are, as famous pro wrestling is staged.
However, some serious injuries can occur in professional wrestling. Knee injuries, such as ACL tears, are the most common. Head injuries, including concussions, are also a risk.
Neck injuries, as well as ear and shoulder injuries, are frequently seen in pro wrestlers.
Wrestling Injuries at WWE
The WWE is the largest professional wrestling organization in the world. Because of this, they have a large database of injury information.
According to their data, the most common injuries in WWE wrestlers are strains and sprains, followed by knee injuries and head injuries.
WWE has a strict concussion policy, which requires wrestlers who suffer a concussion to be cleared by a medical doctor before returning to the ring.
While injuries are common in WWE, serious injuries are rare. However, when they do occur, they can be career-ending.
Some of the most famous wrestlers who have suffered serious injuries include Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Hulk Hogan.
WWF Wrestling Injuries
The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was the largest professional wrestling organization in the world before the WWE purchased them in 2002.
According to their data, the most common injuries in WWF wrestlers are strains and sprains, followed by head injuries – pretty similar to WWE’s which makes sense.
Are All Types of Wrestling Have the Same Injuries?
No, not all types of wrestling have the same injuries. For example, collegiate wrestling is a more physically demanding sport than high school wrestling. As a result, collegiate wrestlers are more likely to suffer from injuries such as strains and sprains, knee injuries, and concussions. As for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, the risk of injury is similar to that of collegiate wrestling.
Wrestling Injuries Statistics
According to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, the most common injuries in collegiate wrestlers are strains and sprains, followed by knee injuries and head injuries.
The study found that the injury rate in wrestling is 7.5 per 1,000 athlete-exposures. An athlete-exposure is defined as one athlete participating in one practice or competition.
The study also found that the knee is the most common site of injury, accounting for 28% of all injuries. The head is the second most common site of injury, accounting for 27% of all injuries.
The shoulder is the third most common site of injury, accounting for 10% of all injuries.
Wrestling Injury Prevention
There are a few things that can be done to help prevent wrestling injuries. For example, proper warm-up and cool-down exercises should be performed before and after practices and competitions.
In addition, wrestlers should use proper techniques when executing moves. This means using the right amount of force and not hyperextending the joints. It is therefore very important to know the basics of wrestling thoroughly.
Wrestlers should also wear the proper wrestling gear, especially protective gear, such as headgear, ear guard, mouthguards, knee pads, and wrestling shoes.
While injuries are a common part of wrestling, by taking proper precautions, serious injuries can be prevented.
Is Wrestling a High Injury Sport?
While all sports come with a certain risk of injury, some are definitely more dangerous than others. Wrestling is considered to be a high injury sport. This is due to the fact that wrestlers often put their bodies in awkward and dangerous positions, which can lead to strains, sprains, and other injuries.
Wrestling Injuries Compared to Other Sports
Here is a comparison of the injury rates in various sports:
-Wrestling: 7.5 per 1,000 athlete-exposures
-Football: 6.3 per 1,000 athlete-exposures
-Basketball: 3.4 per 1,000 athlete-exposures
-Baseball: 2.2 per 1,000 athlete-exposures
As you can see, the injury rate in wrestling is higher than the injury rates in other popular sports.
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