Taekwondo is an unarmed combat sport that originated in Korea [1] and is one of the combat sports that features both men and women in the modern Summer Olympics [2]. Points in Taekwondo competitions are awarded through kicks to the torso and head [3]. These kicks are executed via the flexion and extension of the knee joint, coupled with rapid rotation of the trunk and hip joint [4]. Therefore, Taekwondo athletes suffer a high incidence of back injuries, in addition to injuries affecting the lower extremities [1], [5].

Owing to the highly competitive nature of Taekwondo, athletes require prolonged periods of intensive training [6]. Although such rigorous training improves athletic performance, it also increases the risk of injuries [7]. Sports injuries inflict pain and muscle loss upon athletes [8], which leads to functional impairment that limits participation in competitions and training. In severe cases, injuries may force athletes to retire from the sport [9]. Kim and Park emphasized the importance of assessing the severity of injuries in athletes [10] because injuries with a short and long recovery period cannot be viewed equally [11]. Moreover, determining the severity of injury is important as it affects the sensitivity of the tissue that was injured and the likelihood of injury recurrence [11]. The International Olympic Committee aims to protect athletes from sports injuries [12], and, while sports medicine is rapidly progressing, current research is primarily focused on rehabilitation and epidemiological investigations [13], [14], [15].

To date, studies addressing pain and functional limitations in sports injuries remain limited. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have assessed pain and dysfunction (Modified Oswestry Disability Index [MODI]) and muscle function and recovery period in back injuries. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the relationship between the subjective evaluation using the low back pain scale and MODI and the objective evaluation of muscle function and recovery period in elite Taekwondo athletes (ETAs) with back injuries. These findings will serve as fundamental data for improving the performance of Taekwondo athletes and developing rehabilitation and exercise programs. In addition, it may be a determining factor for the safe return of athletes to sports following a back injury.