Relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and the prevalence of lower limb injuries in basketball and volleyball athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Athletes are subjected to injuries in both training and competitions. These injuries are directly related to intrinsic and extrinsic predisposing factors and the absence of a preventive program. Objective: The objective of this study was, after identifying intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, to relate them to the prevalence of lower limb injuries in volleyball and basketball athletes from a club. Material and Methods: The participants were 46 athletes, 23 from basketball (all male) and 23 from volleyball (13 females and 10 males). The study considered some of the main intrinsic factors described in the literature, for instance, sex, age, weight and height, previous injury; and some extrinsic factors such as sport modality, practice time, frequency and duration of training and the use of protective material. Data regarding risk factors were given by the athletes through a questionnaire and data from previous injuries were obtained through the department of the medical and physical therapy records in the club. Results: In the results, the intrinsic factor previous injury (p=0,004) and the extrinsic factor time of practice in the sport (p=0,001), presented a significant influence. Conclusion: There is a need for further investigation evaluating risk factors in the literature, contributing to a better identification of the relationship between risk factors and the prevalence of injuries in athletes, in order to develop specific prevention programs to the identified factors.