White Collar Boxing…Get ready for impact!

What is white collar boxing?

Well it’s basically an opportunity for city centre professionals (lawyers, accountants and other office folk) who tend to wear a white collar (a shirt and tie to work) to box on their own level playing field and allow themselves to experience the sport of boxing.

And its taken Asia by storm. Not surprisingly, considering how many times the average office worker has wished to knock out a colleague or two…!

Let’s realise that most participants have had no prior boxing experience which is why it’s important to be aware of the possible injuries and know how to deal with them.

As we know, boxing is a contact sport, and contact sports can lead to impact injuries, so if you plan on taking part in Hong Kong’s White Collar Boxing this year, read on![if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="officeArt_x0020_object" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left; margin-left:-7pt;margin-top:20.2pt;width:191.45pt;height:125.5pt;z-index:251661312; visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:12pt; mso-wrap-distance-top:12pt;mso-wrap-distance-right:12pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:12pt;mso-position-horizontal:absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:line' wrapcoords="6 0 21600 0 21600 21591 6 21591 6 0" strokeweight="1pt"> <v:stroke miterlimit="4"></v:stroke> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CLINIC~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title=""></v:imagedata> <w:wrap type="through" anchorx="margin" anchory="line"></w:wrap> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif]

The most concerning boxing injury is of course a head impact resulting in a potential brain injury, the punch impact shakes the brain within the skull and causes the brain to act abnormally for a brief period of time.

This is more commonly known as concussion, which can result in the following symptoms:

▪ Unconsciousness

▪ Brief loss of short-term memory

▪ Nausea

▪ Loss of coordination

▪ Confusion

▪ Headache

Although headgear is worn during the matches, this tends to only protect fighters from cuts, scrapes and swelling, but does not protect 100% against concussions, so go steady in there!

Shoulder injuries can occur through repetition of impact. Common injuries include rotator cuff injuries or shoulder dislocation. Your shoulder joint is a relatively unstable ball and socket joint that is moved and controlled by a small group of four[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="officeArt_x0020_object" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left; margin-left:294.85pt;margin-top:29.35pt;width:223.65pt;height:161.6pt; z-index:251660288;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:12pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right:12pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:12pt; mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' wrapcoords="0 -7 21595 -7 21595 21593 0 21593 0 -7" strokeweight="1pt"> <v:stroke miterlimit="4"></v:stroke> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CLINIC~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title=""></v:imagedata> <w:wrap type="through" anchorx="margin" anchory="line"></w:wrap> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif] muscles known as the rotator cuff.

As the name suggests, the rotator cuff muscles are responsible for shoulder rotation and form a cuff around the head of the humerus (shoulder ball).

An awesome set of core stability muscles will not only protect your spine from injury, but also improve your punching power and ability to absorb the impact of a punch.

In addition of Pilates or PT, manual therapy such as osteopathy or physiotherapy will also greatly facilitate prevention and recovery of injuries.