Judo as a possible cause of anoxic brain damage. A case report.
The rules of judo provide for strangulation techniques in which the blood supply to the brain is blocked by pressure on the carotid arteries; such techniques produce anoxia and possible unconsciousness if the victim fails to submit. A case is presented of a patient with signs of anoxic brain damage, with psychometric investigation showing memory disturbance consistent with a left temporal lobe lesion. This patient had been frequently strangled during his career as a judo player; it is suggested that such frequent strangulation was the cause of the damage. Such an observation indicates the need for caution in the use of such techniques.
Owens
R G
RG
Sub-Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, England.
Ghadiali
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000293:injuries*; D011581:Psychological Tests