Musculoskeletal Injuries in Young Athletes: A Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are common, causing a strong impact on the health of young athletes. Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries in young athletes. Materials and Methods: A qualitative cross-functional analytical study was conducted with a non-probability convenience sample made up of 108 young athletes from two sports clubs located in central and northern Portugal. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and contextual variables were included in the data collection instrument. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was also used to assess injuries. Results: A prevalence of 43.5% was found in localized musculoskeletal injuries in shoulders (34.3%), legs/ knees (34.3%), lumbar spine (23.1%), cervical spine (15.7%), ankles/feet (12.0%), and elbows (11.1%). Factors associated with statistical significance (p 0.005) included living in rural areas, having a higher body mass index, forming part of the youth group, and having a history of previous injuries and exercise interruptions. Discussion: The prevalence of injuries was found to be higher than in other studies since multifactorial variables work as associated factors that require more specialized nursing care. Conclusions: The prevalence of MSIs in young athletes is certainly high, which is related to some sociodemographic, anthropometric and contextual factors in the sports practice. Therefore, healthcare professionals need to implement injury prevention programs and promote quality of life in young athletes.