Musculoskeletal disorders (MD) in weightlifting sports are a major health hazard and can significantly affect the quality of life of practitioners. Most studies on the prevalence of MD in sports were carried out in high-income countries, with different characteristics from middle- and low-income countries. In Brazil, few high-quality data are investigating the prevalence of MD in resistance training (RT) practitioners in the country.

To investigate the prevalence of MD in RT practitioners in the city of Brasília/DF, Brazil

A cross-sectional study that recruited 730 RT practitioners of both sexes, aged 18 years or older, regular RT practitioners, who trained at a gym in Brasília/DF registered with the CREF-7, who had not undergone musculoskeletal system surgery in the last 6 (six) months and had not fractured at the time of data collection. The collection was carried out in Brasília-DF, in four gyms that authorized the research to be carried out on their premises. From May to December 2022, participants were invited to participate in the study according to the arrival or departure flow at the gyms. Interviews and self-administered questions were used to estimate the prevalence of pain or injury (PI) in the last 30 days and last 12 months. In addition, sociodemographic information, the anatomical regions affected and the exercises that possibly triggered PI were collected.

The estimate of punctual prevalence of pain was 20.3% and injury 7.4%, prevalence in the last 30 days for pain was 37.7% and injury 12.8%, and prevalence in the last 12 months for pain 42 % and injury 79.7%. The anatomical regions with the highest indications of pain involvement were the lumbosacral spine (34.3%), shoulder (33%) and knee (32.7%). The anatomical regions affected by injury show, in particular, the shoulder regions (31.1%), lumbosacral spine (29.1%) and knee (14.9%). Exercises identified as triggering pain are squatting (39.7%), bench press (17.7%), leg press (17.7%), rowing (13%), stiff (7%) and extension chair (7%). Among the exercises that possibly triggered the injury, the squat (28.4%), bench press (16.2%), rowing (11.5%), stiff (8.1%) and press (5.4%) stand out. %).

The prevalence of musculoskeletal PI in the last year is higher than existing data in developed countries. The results of this study can be used by the government, the private sector, universities, and professionals working in sports health, providing a better targeting of public policies and research funding, as well as an effective management of musculoskeletal disorders in middle-income countries.

This study highlights possible risk factors and appropriate interventions for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil. This is an important step towards revealing the magnitude of the effects of these musculoskeletal disorders, providing guidance for preventive and intervention strategies in this population.