ANTHROPOMETRIC AND BODY COMPOSITION VARIABLES AS RISK FACTORS FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL INJUREIS IN ATHLETES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: the objective is to determine whether an anthropometric or body composition profile can be considered as a risk factor for musculoskeletal injuries in professional athletes and militaries. Methods: Systematic reviews of the PubMed-Medline and Embase databases were performed. Studies were included if they were published in the last ten years. Two independent researchers performed the selection. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed as the evidence level. Results: A total of 747 articles were identified, and 40 studies were included. Eleven studies were of military personnel, and 29 were of athletes. There were 18 anthropometric variables studied. A high level of evidence indicates that a higher body mass index is risk factor for ankle sprains and for injuries in general, and that higher weight is a risk factor for ankle sprains. Conclusions: Although a higher body mass index and a higher weight were identified as risk factors, high quality studies focusing on different variables, such as skin mass and fat mass, are still needed; these studies may reveal a more definitive connection between obesity and injuries.