Issue 051

July 2009

I got punched in the head really hard last night. I wasn’t knocked out, but I’ve been feeling a bit dazed ever since. How do I know if I need to go to hospital?  

You may have had a concussion. Since you are obviously concerned about it, you should seek medical help. Either go straight to the emergency department at your local hospital, or see your own doctor straight away.  

Go to hospital immediately if you have any of the following: 

  • Any loss of consciousness
  • Vomiting
  • Severe headache
  • Slurred speech
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Fever
  • Loss of memory 
  • Confusion, disorientation or personality change
  • Blood or clear fluid draining from the nose or ears
  • Seizures

Don’t you have to have been unconscious to have a concussion?

Not necessarily. A concussion just means an injury to the brain as a result of a violent blow or shaking that causes a (usually temporary) change in mental status. This might involve being unconscious, or in the case of a mild concussion you may just feel a bit dazed and confused.  

I got knocked out in training last week. I feel okay now, although I still can’t remember what happened. I have a fight in two weeks, and I’m a bit worried about it. My coach says I’m just being soft. What do you think?  

You’re right to be worried. Going back to training or fighting too soon after being knocked out is taking a big risk with your health. In the US, where MMA is regulated by the state athletic commissions, any fighter who suffers a knockout in competition is suspended from fighting and sparring for a minimum of 30 days (longer in some states). Boxers are subject to similar stipulations. These rules exist to protect the long-term health of the fighters. A responsible coach will ensure that their fighters stick to them, whether or not MMA is regulated in their area.  

Surely that’s just the doctors being overcautious though. I know loads of people who’ve been knocked out and went back to training in a couple of days, and they all seem fine. What’s the worst that could happen? 

The most serious concern is something called ‘Second Impact Syndrome’ (SIS). This is where a relatively minor blow to the head following a concussion occasionally results in massive swelling in the brain. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it’s usually fatal.  

Is it true that a fighter can only be knocked out so many times before his ‘chin goes’? 

More or less. Every time a fighter is knocked out his chances of being concussed in future increase and the amount of force needed to KO him decreases. This is especially true if the KOs happen close together. Taking time off after a concussion may not just save you from ending up in a care home in later life, it might also save your MMA career from the curse of the glass jaw.  

Professional fighter Dr Rosi Sexton PhD is a sports therapist and osteopath-in-training based in Manchester, England. She has fought in countries such as Russia, Canada and the USA, and is ranked as one of the top competitors in her weight class. For more information go to www.rosisexton.wordpress.com

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