Experiencing any type of injury should be something to watch out for, especially in contact sports, such as boxing. Your health should be your first priority. You only begin appreciating your health once you have lost it. Thus, don’t be the fella that loses one’s health and now regrets it.
According to research, boxing can be bad for the brain. In fact, the numbers are as high as 1 out of every 5 professional boxers will experience CTBI, or in simpler terms, brain damage. However, professional and amateur boxers are most likely to experience such high numbers of head injuries.
Getting brain damage—is scary. That’s why you can’t take the slightest of chances for you to get such injuries. While they’re not common in people who don’t spar or compete, you might end up hurting yourself without even knowing you did.
This especially applies to inexperienced boxers, who, in fact, are more likely to get hit in the head. You must start working on your footwork and defensive skills for you to begin avoiding punches. If you do so, or even block them with your elbows or shoulders—you’ll be less likely to experience any brain damage.
Before we dive in, however, if you’re interested in this topic, you’ll also enjoy reading about whether boxing affects IQ.
Is boxing damage to the brain permanent?
Boxing has one of the highest injury rate amongst all sports worldwide. That’s because you have two fellas in the ring and their entire purpose is to punch the opponent as hard as possible. Not only that, but they also train for months on end, specifically for that moment.
According to research, brain damage can be either permanent or temporary. Likewise, the recovery process can be extremely long. The study gives an example of concussions, which are highly common in boxing. A mild concussion, they say, is temporary; it can take minutes to several months to heal!
Brain damage may be temporary or permanent and recovery can be prolonged. Concussion — a type of mild TBI that may be considered a temporary injury to the brain but could take minutes to several months to heal. SOURCE
As you can see, the recovery process of the brain—can be different from other body parts. For example, if you get a bruise on your right hand, it’ll heal in about the same period as it will if it were on the left hand. However, the case is different with the brain.
If you want to learn whether boxing makes you dumber, follow the link to read an article of mine on the topic.
How damaging is boxing to the brain?
Many retired boxers will have head injuries’ symptoms for the rest of their lives. While they were at their peak not that long ago, they’re now unable to perform simple cognitive thinking. This can be scary for people who want to start their boxing journey.
Boxing is damaging to the brain, particularly if you spar and compete regularly. If you box only to learn self-defense and better your physical self in the process, you’re less likely to experience any type of head injuries. That said, even people who only spar may experience head damage if they get hit enough times.
Just watch this video, and you’ll understand why some retired boxers experience severe brain damage. They can be influenced by this in the near or even the long future. You can’t really know when their issue will begin to heal itself.
But, it doesn’t have to be this way.
You can ensure to avoid regular sparring and not even compete. You’ll still experience the physical and mental benefits from training.
Hence, you’ll still experience a lower body fat percentage over time and even better confidence and self-esteem.
You really don’t have to experience head injuries if you box. Do yourself a favor and stay away from such injuries if possible.
Will boxing give me brain injuries?
As we’ve discussed thus far, boxing is a sport that can give you various injuries, including in the joints or even in the brain. As a result, always keeping yourself safe and health should be your priority.
20% of all professional boxers will experience brain damage. This can show up in the form of memory loss, speech impairment, and even having a hard time performing cognitive thinking. Of course, if you stay away from spars and competition, you’ll be less likely to experience such symptoms.
I do want to mention something: you must always seek medical help when in concern. If you feel the slightest of dizziness while or after boxing or any other symptoms for that matter, go and get that checked.
Accurate identification will lead to proper medical treatment. This can be the difference between permanent and temporary damage.
So why bother risking your long-term health for present enjoyment? There’s really no reason for you to do that. Seek medical attention whenever you need.
Should I box even though it can hurt my brain?
The physical and mental benefits of boxing will overtake its risks for some people. Indeed, it’s one of the most dangerous sports out there. I wrote numerous articles on its potential hazards, and so I see that way too often.
Boxing will improve your physical shape, better your mental health, and teach you how to fight fiercely; as such, you should definitely learn it. If you want to avoid brain and head injuries altogether, it’ll be best if you stay away from regular sparring and competing as both an amateur or a professional.
Knowing how to fight will come in real handy in the future. I’ve seen a few situations where someone managed to protect himself and his close ones by knowing how to throw a fierce punch.
While boxing isn’t the most effective self-defense method, it’s certainly up there. You’ll truly become a solid fighter by pushing yourself inside the boxing gym.
The physical and mental benefits include:
- Better aerobic shape
- Improved anaerobic shape
- Lower blood pressure
- Being more confident
- Having higher self-esteem
- Living a healthier life
- Feeling more fulfilled
- Embracing self-love
- Better mental health
- Appreciating yourself
- Lower body fat percentage
- Knowing you can fight
These are all life changing: truly, they are. If you want to have even some of these traits, you can. All you need to do is remain consistent with your training.
Will boxing headgear prevent brain damage?
Boxing headgear doesn’t prevent concussions; in fact, numerous studies thus far have been unable to prove whether fighting with or without one—is safer. Headgear makes you a bigger target and allows you to absorb more hits before you get knocked out. As such, it may be more dangerous to wear one. SOURCE
The findings regarding boxing headgear and its prevention of head and brain damage—is controversial. While it reduces each punch’s impact, it does make you a bigger target. As such, you might really be more likely to experience brain damage, as you can constantly get more hits to your head.
Final words
Brain damage and head injuries can be scary. You want to avoid them as much as possible, even when competing or boxing regularly.
The primary way to avoid such injuries is to hone your defense game and ensure you avoid all punches to the head.
While it may sound like bad advice, you’re 4 times more likely to get injured if you get knocked out. As a result, if you win more often, you’ll also get injured less.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you’ll also enjoy reading about the best boxing shoes you should buy to be more stable and slip less inside the ring. If you want to immediately boost your skills, follow the link!