The Relationship Between Performance Indicators, Mental Health, and Sports Injury Incidence During Pre- and Post-Preparation Periods of National Para-Taekwondo Athletes

Objective Para-taekwondo, due to the unique physical conditions of athletes with disabilities, requires special attention to muscular strength, balance, and injury prevention.This study aimed to examine the relationship between isokinetic strength, muscle balance, and postural stability with sports injuries and mental health in national para-taekwondo athletes.Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, twelve national para-taekwondo athletes (6 females, 6 males) were assessed in two phases: before and after a preparatory training period.Collected data included isokinetic strength of the knee and ankle, muscle balance ratios, and postural stability (all measured using a Biodex system), along with sports injuries (assessed via the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire) and mental health status (evaluated using the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire).Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential tests (parametric or non-parametric, depending on data normality), with a significance level set at 0.05.Results Significant improvements were observed in quadriceps, hamstring, dorsiflexor, and plantarflexor strength in both limbs at all tested speeds following the preparatory period (p = 0.014 to 0.048).However, no significant changes were found in hamstring-to-quadriceps and dorsiflexion-to-plantarflexion strength ratios (p = 0.087 to 0.098).Postural stability indices (overall, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral) showed relative improvements, although none reached statistical significance (p = 0.058).A significant inverse correlation was found between lower hamstring-to-quadriceps ratios and injury scores (r = -0.62,p = 0.037).In addition, poorer balance was positively correlated with higher injury scores (r = 0.54, p = 0.048).Mental health issues were significantly associated with both reduced balance ( = 0.49, p = 0.050) and higher injury scores ( = 0.58, p = 0.043).Conclusion These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive training programs that target muscular strength, balance, and mental well-being to reduce injury risk and enhance performance in para-taekwondo.Regular monitoring of these parameters is recommended as part of athlete development programs.