MMA Competitors Fight Staph Infection, Ear Deformities and More Outside the Cage

Mixed martial arts has achieved a level of popularity that its early supporters may never have imagined. Many consider the spectator sport to have taken the place in the sports world that boxing once held. But most of MMA's millions of fans have no idea the amount of work that goes into preparing for a fight. They know even less about the recovery afterward.

Cauliflower Ear

Don't be fooled by its delicious nickname. Cauliflower ear is a nasty condition. While many ear deformities stem from birth, cauliflower ear is one of several acquired ear deformities. It is caused by a blow to the ear that is severe enough to cause an internal rush of blood or other fluid into the external ear. The fluid separates the cartilage from the rest of the ear and blocks the flow of vital nutrients throughout the ear. This results in a swollen, bulbous, deformed ear that can turn whitish due to the lack of nutrients.

The condition can be prevented if the blood is drained out by a doctor soon after the blow. If not, the condition will become permanent. But like many other ear deformities, its abnormal appearance can be rectified through otoplasty.

Staph Infection

One unfortunate but all-too-common occurrence for MMA fighters is the dreaded staph infection. The infection, which is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, can range from minor to life threatening. Staph can be detected on the skin's surface in the form of red, pus-filled boils that may tend to ooze. If it progresses internally by infecting the blood, the infection can cause high fever and chills.

The disorder can run rampant among athletes involved in contact sports or who share locker rooms. The bacteria can live on the surface of the skin without causing any problems. But in a violent contact sport like MMA, there are a lot of open wounds and consequently a lot of opportunities for staph to enter the body. Mats used for practice and fights that are not cleaned properly after each use allow the infection to run rampant, spreading to everyone who uses the mats.

A staph infection needs to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor as soon as it is suspected. Antibiotics will be administered and the open wounds will have to be washed and treated with antibacterial soap and ointment. An infection left unattended could eventually land the infected person in the hospital.

Concussions

Busted lips and broken noses are typical after a fight. But when the head shots get heavy, concussions can occur. Concussions are a fairly frequent injury in MMA and are diagnosed when the fighter seems to suffer from confusion, memory loss and inability to focus.

The mainstream MMA world has taken serious actions to try to prevent and to learn more about concussions. A special type of mouthpiece called a Brain-Pad was created to prevent concussions caused by blows to the lower jaw which, without the piece, would smack into the upper part of the skull and cause brain injury.