Lesões esportivas em paratletas brasileiros de paraesgrima: estudo epidemiológico durante um campeonato nacional no Brasil

Abstract

With the development of wheelchair fencing in recent years, the sport has evolved toward high performance competition. This progress has intensified the demand for training among para athletes, which may result in an increased incidence of sports injuries. However, there are few studies specifically addressing sports injuries in wheelchair fencing para-athletes. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology of sports injuries in Brazilian wheelchair fencing para athletes during the 2024 national championships. A descriptive and observational epidemiological study with a cross-sectional and quantitative approach was conducted. The study included 74 para-athletes of both sexes during a national season. Data collection was carried out using an electronic form based on the Paralympic Sport Injury Protocol (PLEEP), containing information about the athlete's profile and records of injuries occurring during national sporting events. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of para-athletes were male (59.46%) and belonged to category A (64.86%). The average age of the athletes was 34.37 ± 10.87 years, with an average experience in the sport of 5.56 ± 6.09 years. Most athletes were from the South (33.78%) and Southeast (33.78%) regions of Brazil. Regarding the origin of disability, 60.80% had acquired disabilities, mainly due to traffic accidents (40%), while 39.30% had congenital disabilities. Regarding the type of disability, 71.60% were of neurological origin, with diagnoses related to spinal cord disorders (20.70%). Musculoskeletal-based disabilities affected 28.40% of the group, with the primary clinical diagnosis being limb deficiency (25.68%). Regarding training, athletes practiced wheelchair fencing an average of 2.78 ± 1.01 sessions per week, with a duration of 2.22 ± 0.80 hours per session. Physical training and/or other modalities occurred 2.96 ± 1.32 times per week, lasting 1.46 ± 0.64 hours. During the national season, 52 sports injuries were recorded, of which 30.13% were new injuries. The most common injury was exertion-induced muscle disorder (53.86%), mainly related to repetitive movements (44.73%). The most frequent mechanisms were repetitive movement - sudden onset - non-contact (48.08%). The upper limb (84.62%) was the most affected region, with shoulders (38.46%) being the most impacted area. The prevalence of injuries during the season was 26.24%, with an incidence rate of 0.34 and a prevalence rate of 113.17 per 1,000 athlete-days. The results demonstrated high rates of incidence and prevalence of injuries among wheelchair fencing para-athletes during the national season, highlighting the need for preventive actions at different levels. These actions should involve federations, sports entities, coaching staff, and athletes, aiming to reduce risks and ensure a safer sports environment.