The relationship between training load and injury risk in taekwondo: a systematic review

While training load is a recognized modifiable risk factor for injury in team sports, its impact in individual combat sports like taekwondo remains underexplored. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the association between training load and injury risk in taekwondo athletes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a comprehensive search of the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and Embase databases was conducted up to May 1st, 2025. Eligible studies were required to report injury risk in taekwondo athletes in relation to internal or external training load. The injury risk metrics included incidence rate ratio, odds ratio, injury incident ratio, and relative risk. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Twenty-one studies were included in the final analysis. Among these, 18 studies explored the relationship between external load and injury risk, while 3 studies examined the relationship between internal load and injury risk. Strong evidence supports an association between rapid weight loss (RWL) and injury risk in taekwondo athletes. Moderate evidence links external load, especially competition exposure, training frequency, and duration, to injury risk. Limited evidence links technical execution, sleep quality, and neuromuscular function to injury risk. Due to the limited number of high quality studies, further prospective research is needed to confirm the current evidence linking training load to injury risk in taekwondo athletes. RWL shows the most consistent evidence of association with injury risk, underscoring the importance of structured weight management strategies. In addition, moderate evidence supports associations between competition exposure, training frequency/duration and injury risk, while technical execution, neuromuscular function, and sleep quality are supported only by limited evidence. CRD42024609297 (1) Strong and consistent evidence links rapid weight loss to increased injury risk in taekwondo athletes, suggesting it is a key modifiable factor. (2) Balanced monitoring of both external and internal loads, including training, competition, and rapid weight loss period is essential to reduce injury risk and support safe performance progression in taekwondo athletes. (3) Preventing injuries linked to rapid weight loss requires a practical focus on safe weight management and education for athletes and coaches.