Kickboxing is an intense, sometimes dangerous sport similar to boxing, only with kicks included in the fighters' arsenal. Kickboxers wear boxing gloves and fight in a ring like traditional boxers. Along with injuries to the hands, face and head that can happen in all boxing, a kickboxer is faced with the possibility of their feet and shins being injured, too.
Shin Conditioning
Muay Thai, a martial art and sport that originated in Thailand, is fought without any shin protection. Fighters are known to condition their shins so they will be less sensitive to pain and more effective as weapons for Muay Thai leg kicks. Stories of fighters kicking trees or using bottles to condition shins may or may not be true, but using anything harder than your shin bone may only cause injury. Kicking heavy bags and normal pads with your shins is a sufficient for conditioning.
Shin Protection
For regular kickboxing training and matches, fighters use protection to cover the shins. Certain organizations may have specific types of padding that is required, but generally a sleeve is pulled over the foot and positioned over the top of the shin and top of the foot. The padding looks similar to soccer shin pads.
Kicking Techniques
Most kicks delivered in kickboxing and other martial arts do not place the shins in position for an injury. The front kick, which makes contact with the ball of the foot and the sidekick, which makes contact with the bottom or outside edge of the foot, are generally safe as far as the shins are concerned. It is the roundhouse kick that causes the greatest impact on the shins. In a roundhouse kick you pivot on your planted foot and rotate your hips to deliver the kick in a whipping motion with your shin/ankle region.
Kickboxing Shin Injuries
Despite padding and other safety precautions, shin injuries are still going to happen due to the nature of the sport. Bruised shins and fractures are possible, as is an injury where the peroneal tendon behind your fibula in your shin dislocates by popping out around the bone. It feels like a sprained ankle, and should be seen by a doctor.
Posted in: Kickboxing