Musculoskeletal Injuries in Capoeira Athletes: An Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Capoeira involves fighting movements, turns, acrobatic jumps, and repeated movements, which can lead to injury. This study determined the incidence of injuries in capoeira athletes and analyzed the associated factors. The sample included 157 capoeira athletes, 94 (59.9%) of which were males aged 8–67 years. A questionnaire was administered; in the results, 95 (60.5%) athletes suffered injury during their entire capoeira practice, totaling 218 injuries, and 48 (30.6%) athletes had incurred an injury in the previous year, totaling 81 injuries. There were 0.85 injuries per 1000 h of capoeira training. The most common injuries were sprains (19.23%) and muscle bruises (14.10%), which were located in the ankles (20.51%) and knees (16.67%). Falls (24.36%) and repetitive movements (15.38%) were the most prevalent injury mechanisms. Male athletes presented a higher risk of sustaining capoeira-related injuries than women (odds ratio = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.05–4.61; p = 0.037). Individuals who trained equal to or more than three times per week were more at risk by 0.44 (p ≤ 0.001) than those who trained up to two times per week. This study showed a high prevalence of injuries in this sample. Sex (male) and a training frequency that was equal to or greater than three times per week were the associated risk factors. The data obtained can be used to create specific training programs for preventing injuries.