Prevalência de lesões e fatores associados em corredores de rua recreacionais brasileiros: revisão sistemática com metanálise

Abstract

Background: The street race is an easy access, low cost and simple to practice, so it is a contemporary social phenomenon. Regular practice of running provides several health benefits, however, when performed improperly or unguided, it can cause injury. Musculoskeletal impairment can mean long-term withdrawal and absenteeism from work. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of injuries in recreational runners in Brazil; to analyze the risk of bias in eligible studies; to investigate the relationship between training characteristics and the onset of injuries; to verify the influence of gender on the prevalence of injuries; to identify the most affected anatomic sites and the most frequent types of lesions. Methods: A systematic metanalysis of Brazilian studies investigating the prevalence at the point, during or throughout the life of injuries in recreational street runners of both sexes, aged ≥ 18 years, was performed. We excluded systematic review studies, those with samples of professional athletes and triathletes and articles duplicated in more than one database. Electronic searches in the SciELO, LILACS, Medline (via Ovid) and WEB OF SCIENCE databases were performed with the descriptors related to prevalence, lesion and race. A second survey was conducted using Google Scholar and reference lists of all eligible studies. Data were initially analyzed using descriptive statistics. A metaregression analysis was performed to verify the influence of gender on the prevalence of lesions, to evaluate the most affected anatomical sites and to verify the most frequent types of lesions. Results: Twenty-three studies were included, totaling 3786 participants, of whom 2605 were males. The metanalysis identified a prevalence of injuries of 36.5% (95% CI 30.8-42.5%). The distance traveled is a predictive factor of injuries. The prevalence among male runners was 28.3 (95% CI 22.5-35.0%), and among female runners it was 9.1% (95% CI 5.3-15, 2%). The knee was the most affected anatomical site, with a prevalence of 32.9% (95% CI 26.7-39.6%) and muscle injuries were the most frequent, with a prevalence of 27.9% (95% CI, 18.2-40.1%). Conclusion: This review is the first national meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence of injuries in recreational runners. Estimates provide evidence of moderate quality that the prevalence of is 36.5% and signals the need for elaboration of preventive strategies, as well as for the integration among health professionals for the development of more assertive training and rehabilitation programs.