Long-term effects of combat sports
in Health ·
I’m going to be direct about which combat sport I’m talking about: kickboxing. I used to compete, and I was actually pretty solid at it. Right before one tournament, I cut back on my food intake—I was sitting at about 190 lbs at the time—to make sure I didn't carry any extra weight. I ramped up the intensity of my training sessions, and that's when things went sideways. I started dealing with dizzy spells and nausea, and I just felt completely weak... I had to stop training entirely. I went through every medical test imaginable, and according to the doctors, everything came back perfectly fine. There wasn't a single underlying illness or physical issue found. Now, I'm looking to get back into the ring, but I need to know the actual risks of getting sick or injured in amateur boxing. By "amateur," I mean the version where fighters wear headgear, groin guards, shin guards, and mouthguards! Basically, the protective gear is dialed up to the max. Please take this inquiry seriously; I am seeking professional advice. What are the long-term health consequences of participating in amateur kickboxing?