Martial arts are a fun way for athletes of all ages to develop their mental and physical conditioning. Before enrolling, you should learn about the general risks involved with each specific martial art form (kung fu, taekwondo, judo, etc.), as certain forms are not suited for all athletes. All forms have some risk of injury, including bone, joint, and muscle injuries, such as strains, fractures, sprains, and dislocations as well as head injuries and minor injuries, like cuts and bruising.

A concussion can occur after an impact to your head or a whiplash-type injury that results in your head and brain rapidly shaking back and forth. While they can happen during many different types of sports and activities, they are most common in high-contact sports, like football or boxing.

Symptoms of a concussion are not always obvious. Sometimes, a concussion can cause loss of consciousness, but this does not always happen. Some symptoms can also be delayed and appear several days after the injury.

The most common symptoms of a concussion include:

There are typically only a few symptoms related to a fracture. If you or your athlete has suffered a fracture, the pain levels will vary depending on the location and type of fracture. Other common symptoms are swelling and/or bruising and an inability to bear weight or move the affected body part at all.

The most obvious type of fracture is an open fracture, where a bone has been broken due to a severe trauma and the skin is pierced by the bone. There are also various types of closed fractures, where a bone break does not break the skin.

Common types of fractures include:

Sports burnout is a response to chronic stress after the continued demands of playing a sport or doing an activity without the necessary or proper recovery periods. This can happen to any athlete, but it’s most common in younger athletes. For all athletes, parents, and coaches, it’s important to be aware of the signs and phases of burnout.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It helps you walk, run, and jump. But when the tendon gets stretched too far, it can rupture, resulting in a complete or partial tear. This is usually due to a sudden and strong force on the tendon, which can happen when you jump, pivot on your foot, or move too quickly. It can also occur if you trip or fall.

A hammertoe is a deformity of the second, third, or fourth toe. This condition causes a bend in the toe’s middle joint, which makes the toe resemble a hammer—hence the name.

Hammertoes can be caused by a muscle imbalance as well as wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or have a narrow toe box, such as high heels. When shoes that get narrow toward the toe are worn, it causes the toes to bend, and if a toe becomes bent and held in the same position long enough, it can cause the toe to become stuck in this position, creating a hammertoe.