The Medical Aspects of Boxing

Hand injuries in boxing

Investigations of 100 consecutive hand injuries in boxing have shown that 39% occurred in the area of the thumb, including the radial carpals, metacarpals and phalanges and their joints. These injuries were mostly caused by forced abduction of the thumb. Thirty-five percent of the injuries occurred at the base of Metacarpals 2 to 5, including the wrist joint, and arose from forced flexion of the wrist. Twenty-six percent occurred in the phalanges and the rest of the metacarpals, excluding the bases.