Published Paper Details:

Karate is a Japanese martial art that uses striking and kicking techniques with hands, feet, elbows, and knees, as well as blocking and grappling, to develop physical and mental discipline. Karate related musculoskeletal pain are more common in students as continuous intense rhythmic movements of joints take place. Handgrip strength(HGS) is essential for the human body when performing precise hand actions. It is a low-cost method of estimating a persons total upper body strength which may reflect physical activity and general health. Hamstring muscle flexibility is the key component of martial arts training that improves performance and lowers the risk of injuryMETHOD : A cross sectional study was used. A purposive sample method, composed of 151 karate students between ages of 10 to 14 years in and around Ernakulum(Kerala). The study duration was 3 months. The outcome measures used were Modified Nordic Questionnaire for assessing musculoskeletal pain, Hand held Dynamo-meter for handgrip strength, Active Knee Extension Test(AKE) for assessing Hamstring tightness. RESULTS : A total of 151 subjects participated in this study. Among them 92 were boys while 59 were girls. In accordance with statistical analyses there is a prevalence in musculoskeletal problems among u-14 karate students. Hips/thighs 29.8% and knees 25.1% were the most often reported pain sites, 59% had hamstring tightness, whereas 41% showed hamstring flexibility and 74% subjects showed normal strength ,21% were weak and 5% had strong handgrip strength. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that musculoskeletal problems are common among U-14 karate students, limiting their karate involvement and shortening their careers. Understanding the prevalence can aid in preventive training and the development of strategies to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases.