![]() ![]() ![]() It has been suggested that the loss of consciousness is caused by disruption of axons within the ascending reticular activating system ( 7– 9). The weakness is, however, most likely not the jaw itself, but rather results from an inability of the neck muscles to reduce head movement or a failure of the boxer to notice the incoming strike. This explains the term “glass jaw,” which for over a 100 years have referred to a boxer that is easily knocked out by a punch to the jaw. ![]() Uppercuts to the chin may also cause unconsciousness, while straight punches to the face are unlikely to do so ( 6). Retrospective analysis of boxing knockouts has revealed that they typically are caused by a hook to the side of the jaw which causes a rotation of the head in the horizontal plane. Acceleration of the head leads to stretching of the brain tissue itself, which makes it important to consider the direction of the incoming blow and the way it makes the head move. The assumption that deformation of the skull is a key component of a concussion was, however, contradicted by the work of Denny-Brown and Russel in the 1940s, that demonstrated the importance of head movement ( 5). This theory suggests that the impact leads to a depression of the skull that causes a hydrostatic pressure pulse in the subarachnoid space, which then is transferred through the perivascular space to reach deeper regions of the brain ( Figure 1). An early theory was proposed by Charles B Cassasa and reported by Martland in 1928 ( 4). The Biomechanics of a Knockoutįor a punch to damage the brain, the force from the impact must somehow be transferred through the skull and into the brain tissue. This is also seen in boxing, where knocked out boxers sometimes never regain consciousness and succumb to their injuries.īut regardless of whether consciousness is regained or not, it is clear that brain regions responsible for maintaining consciousness must be impaired by the force of the incoming blow. They distinguished this from contusio cerebri (a bruised brain), where function was lost and never regained ( 2, 3). A loss of consciousness from which the person rapidly recovered was termed commotio cerebri (a shaken brain) by early researchers. Fortunately, consciousness is typically regained spontaneously within a few minutes or less. This usually leads to a complete loss of muscle tone, and the boxer falls to the floor. By observing video sequences of knockouts, it can be concluded that the target of the punch is, in most cases, unconscious before a follow-up punch can land. This is dangerous for a boxer, as it reduces the ability to defend against further punches.Ī harder strike can cause a loss of consciousness, typically with an almost instantaneous onset. The gait may also be affected, and the afflicted person is then said to have developed spaghetti legs. This is colloquially referred to as being groggy, since it resembles a person that has had too much grog, an alcoholic beverage. Symptoms of a PunchĪ strike to the head which does not lead to unconsciousness may still induce a state characterized by reduced reaction speed and confusion. These practices have now combined into a large-scale entertainment industry, even though known symptoms of head punches include permanent brain damage and death. While the tradition of fighting solely with punches appears to have been confined in the Middle East and Europe, there are numerous examples of martial arts that combine punches with kicks and throws from around the world. The tradition continued in the Roman Empire and then gradually changed over the centuries to finally evolve into modern-day boxing. This type of ancient boxing, known as pygmachia, was also practiced in the Olympic games of the ancient era. Here, there is a description of how Thereon organizes a fight where Epeus uses his brawny fists to strike Euryalus to the ground and wins the first prize of a strong 6-year-old mule. This was likely very common in prehistoric times, and it has been suggested that the ability to forcefully dominate others also contributed to the evolution of the human hand ( 1).Įven though the earliest use of punching was likely violent conflict solving, there are mentions of organized competitions in early historical records, such as the Iliad by Homer. However, the shape of the human hand also allows it to form a fist which can be used to deliver forceful punches. The most likely cause for this is evolutionary pressure aimed at improved manual dexterity to allow better tool use. The proportions of the human hand differ from other primates, which tend to have longer fingers. ![]()
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