Musculoskeletal pain (MP) in sports has been compared to an acute traumatic injury or overuse injury. This scenario represents a challenge for sports science, as it is not fully explained by biomechanics, muscle stress, or overuse injuries. Practitioners of resistance training (RT) affected by COVID-19 still need investigations into the relationship between MP and the severity of COVID-19 because Brazil is still incipient with regard to relevant and quality studies that investigate this relationship.

To investigate the relationship between MP and the severity of COVID-19 in the city of Brasília/DF.

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 surgery in the musculoskeletal system in the last 6 (six) months and had not fractured at the time of data collection. The collection was carried out in four gyms in Brasília-DF that authorized the research to be carried out on their premises. Participants were invited to participate in the study according to the arrival or departure flow at the gyms, from May to December 2022. Interviews and self-administered questions were used to estimate the relationship between MP and the severity of Covid-19.

Regarding the prevalence of MP, participants who reported a diagnosis of Covid-19 have a higher prevalence of pain in the last 30 days (42.0% with 95% CI: 31.4% to 52.6%), being higher than the prevalence in the group that did not report a diagnosis of Covid-19 (29.5% with CI 13.5% to 45.6%). In the mild Covid-19 severity groups (did not require hospitalization) and moderate (hospitalization in the ward), men, from social class A, with a postgraduate degree, employed and who have been practicing bodybuilding for more than 12 months, stand out.

The prevalence of pain was higher in RT practitioners who were diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 30 days, compared to the group that was not affected by Covid-19. Indicating that in Brazil there is a need for coordinated efforts by the government, the private sector, universities, civil society, and health professionals, in order to provide effective management of musculoskeletal pain in people affected by Covid-19.

This study highlights possible risk factors and appropriate interventions for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain 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.