Female boxing in Italy: 2002-2007 report.
OBJECTIVE
To collect medical data on women's boxing.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal study.


METHODS
Medical examinations requested by Italian laws.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted on all female boxing competitions in Italy from April 2001 to December 2007. Sixty-one amateur female boxers were evaluated longitudinally.


METHODS
(1) Retrospective study: All pre-/postmatch medical reports were analysed. (2) Prospective study: Breast, gynaecologic, brain, eyes, ear, nose and throat examinations were carried out.


METHODS
(1) Retrospective study: Any injury assessed before/after the match. (2) Prospective study: Health problems which could be related to boxing activity.


RESULTS
(1) Retrospective study: Data from 5600 examinations were collected. Precompetition, a medical problem was recorded in three athletes (one conjunctiva hyperemia, one zygomatic bruise, one eyelid haematoma). Post competition, 51/2800 medical checks showed mild common injuries, such as soft tissue facial lesions, epistaxis and hand-wrist problems. Only one concussion was recorded with hospitalisation (for a thorough evaluation). Another athlete was hospitalised for a nasal fracture. (2) Prospective study: Two fibroadenomas, three ovarian cysts and one intramural uterine myoma were diagnosed. In four boxers, non-specific electroencephalographic abnormalities were detected, however, with a normal brain MRI in three (the fourth is still waiting for the radiologic procedure). Nasal septum deviation was common (42.6%) and a transmissive hypoacusia was observed in two athletes. No major eye injuries were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Female boxing seems to be a safe sport with a very low incidence of events requiring hospitalisation. No specific diseases in female boxers could be observed, in particular regarding the breast and reproductive system.
Bianco
Massimiliano
M
Sports Medicine Department, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Institute, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. massimiliano.bianco@fastwebnet.it
Massimiliano
Bianco
B
Sanna
Nicola
N
Nicola
Sanna
S
Bucari
Sante
S
Sante
Bucari
B
Fabiano
Carmela
C
Carmela
Fabiano
F
Palmieri
Vincenzo
V
Palmieri
V
V
Zeppilli
Paolo
P
Paolo
Zeppilli
Z
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001914:Boxing / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010808:Physical Examination; D055815:Young Adult