Prevalence and Patterns of Musculoskeletal Injuries among Female Karate Athletes: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Karate is a high-intensity combat sport that subjects athletes to repeated biomechanical stress, often resulting in Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs), particularly among female athletes. Despite the increasing participation of females in this sport, there remains a paucity of gender-specific injury data. Aim: To determine the prevalence and patterns of MSIs among female karate athletes in the Hubli-Dharwad region. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2025 to April 2025, involving 70 female karate practitioners aged 18-35 years across six registered karate academies in the Hubli-Dharwad region, Karnataka, India. Participants had a minimum of two years of consistent training. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (sport-adapted) was used to document symptoms over the past 12 months. Injury prevalence across anatomical regions was calculated, and correlations between injury sites were assessed using Spearman’s coefficient. A p-value of <0.001 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of MSIs was observed in 51 participants (72.9%). The most commonly affected areas were the lower back (24 participants, 34.3%), knees (21 participants, 30.0%), shoulders (20 participants, 28.6%), and wrists/hands (18 participants, 25.7%). Statistically significant correlations were observed between several adjacent or functionally linked areas, including the shoulders and upper back (r-value=0.467; p-value <0.001) and knees and ankles/feet (r-value=0.540; p-value <0.001), suggesting biomechanical interdependence. The Sport-adapted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (SNMQ) demonstrated acceptable internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s α of 0.761. Conclusion: Female karate athletes exhibit a high burden of MSIs, predominantly affecting the lower back and lower extremities, followed by the shoulder and upper back. These findings emphasise the need for gender-specific preventive strategies and biomechanically informed training modifications to safeguard athlete health and performance.