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Is Power Slap Safer Than MMA? An Analysis of Concussive and Subconcussive Blows
By O'malley, Paddy and GPT, Chat
Combat sports inherently involve risks of head trauma, which can lead to both immediate and long-term brain damage. A comparison between Power Slap and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) suggests that Power Slap may present a safer alternative due to its emphasis on early match stoppages, which prioritize safety by avoiding multiple impacts within a single match.
Bazarian, J. J., Zhu, T., Blyth, B., Borrino, A., & Zhong, J. (2014). Subject-specific changes in brain white matter on diffusion tensor imaging after sports-related concussion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 32(10), 1402-1409.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Symptoms and Prevention.
Giza, C. C., & Hovda, D. A. (2001). The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Journal of Athletic Training, 36(3), 228-235.
Lehman, E. J., Hein, M. J., Baron, S. L., & Gersic, C. M. (2012). Neurodegenerative causes of death among retired National Football League players. Neurology, 79(19), 1970-1974.
McKee, A. C., Cantu, R. C., Nowinski, C. J., Hedley-Whyte, E. T., Gavett, B. E., Budson, A. E., ... & Stern, R. A. (2009). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: Progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 68(7), 709-735.
By O'malley, Paddy and GPT, Chat
Combat sports inherently involve risks of head trauma, which can lead to both immediate and long-term brain damage. A comparison between Power Slap and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) suggests that Power Slap may present a safer alternative due to its emphasis on early match stoppages, which prioritize safety by avoiding multiple impacts within a single match.
Early Stoppages in Power Slap vs. MMA's Knockout Risks
In Power Slap, matches are often stopped as soon as a fighter exhibits signs of instability, even if they are not fully knocked out. This conservative approach aims to reduce the chances of multiple concussive events occurring within a match, thereby minimizing the severity of potential damage. According to Barth et al. (2011), repetitive concussions can lead to cumulative brain damage, particularly if sustained over a short period. In contrast, MMA fighters can take dozens, even hundreds of subconcussive blows within a single fight, as well as hundreds to thousands of these impacts during the training leading up to a fight. These subconcussive impacts can accumulate, leading to subtle but significant changes in brain structure and function over time (McKee et al., 2009).Protective Protocols in Power Slap
The strict safety protocols in Power Slap, which prioritize immediate stoppages at the first sign of danger, reflect contemporary guidelines for concussion management. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2019) emphasizes minimizing secondary impacts to reduce the risk of severe outcomes. In MMA, fighters can endure multiple impacts in a single fight, despite medical oversight and referee intervention, potentially increasing both short-term and long-term brain trauma risks (Lehman et al., 2012).Emphasis on Safety and Reduced Knockout Risks
Since Power Slap competitions involve a smaller number of isolated strikes, with referees intervening quickly when there are signs of danger, it reduces the overall trauma to the brain. This is supported by research indicating that isolated concussive events, if properly managed, may pose less long-term risk compared to the accumulated effects of subconcussive blows (Bazarian et al., 2014). MMA’s allowance for recovery and continuation after knockdowns may inadvertently increase the risk of multiple traumas, even within a single bout.Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Risks
Power Slap’s structure, with its emphasis on immediate match stoppages, appears to align with modern concussion management, focusing on short-term safety and limiting exposure to severe impacts. This approach contrasts with MMA, where longer bouts and repeated exposure to blows increase the likelihood of cumulative brain damage (Giza & Hovda, 2001).Conclusion
While Power Slap involves high-risk, isolated concussive blows, its emphasis on early stoppages may reduce the potential for multiple traumatic events within a single encounter, making it a potentially safer option than MMA in terms of immediate and cumulative brain injury risks.References
Barth, J. T., Freeman, J. R., Broshek, D. K., & Varney, R. N. (2011). Acceleration-Deceleration Sport-Related Concussion: The Gravity of It All. Journal of Athletic Training, 46(3), 214-220.Bazarian, J. J., Zhu, T., Blyth, B., Borrino, A., & Zhong, J. (2014). Subject-specific changes in brain white matter on diffusion tensor imaging after sports-related concussion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 32(10), 1402-1409.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Symptoms and Prevention.
Giza, C. C., & Hovda, D. A. (2001). The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Journal of Athletic Training, 36(3), 228-235.
Lehman, E. J., Hein, M. J., Baron, S. L., & Gersic, C. M. (2012). Neurodegenerative causes of death among retired National Football League players. Neurology, 79(19), 1970-1974.
McKee, A. C., Cantu, R. C., Nowinski, C. J., Hedley-Whyte, E. T., Gavett, B. E., Budson, A. E., ... & Stern, R. A. (2009). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: Progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 68(7), 709-735.
