The Study of Interleukin-6 and Creatine Kinase Concentrations in Professional MuayThai Boxers

Abstract

Introduction: MuayThai is a martial sport which use a variety of weapons such as punch kick knee and elbow to impact a contender. Thus, injuries such as contusion, laceration or fractured bone. However, some injuries and inflammations could occur without prior notice by naked eye. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of MuayThai boxing match on interleukin-6 and creatine kinase concentrations in MuayThai boxers.
Methods: Ten professional MuayThai boxers, age between 16-20 years, participated in either experimental group with 1 match of MuayThai or control group in a random order, cross-over design (with at least 2 weeks between each group). Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 2 hours after a boxing match and were analysed for interleukin-6 and creatine kinase concentrations by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and enzymatic method, respectively. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measure and Paired t-test were used to analyse differences in interleukin-6 and creatine kinase concentrations. One-way ANOVA with repeated measure was used to analyse differences within each group with Bonferoni method for a post hoc test. Statistical significance was accepted at p-value <0.05.
Results: Serum interleukin-6 levels significantly increased immediately after, and 2 hours after a boxing match (p < 0.01). Furthermore, serum creatine kinase levels significantly increased only 2 hours after a boxing match (p = 0.03). White blood cell counts significantly increased immediately after (p = 0.01) and 2 hours after a boxing match (p < 0.01) when compared to control group.
Conclusions: Serum levels of interleukin-6 and creatine kinase, both of which were markers of muscle damage and inflammation, appeared to be increased after MuayThai boxing match suggesting that MuayThai boxing is high intensity and contact sports leading to muscle damage and inflammation.