Associação de fatores musculoesqueléticos de membros superiores e do tronco com lesões e desempenho esportivo de membros inferiores em atletas

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of musculoskeletal factors of the upper limbs and trunk with lower limb injuries and sports performance in athletes. Data sources: Searches were conducted in the CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, SPORTSDiscus, and Web of Science databases, as well as through manual searches of reference lists from relevant articles. Eligibility criteria: Observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) that explored relationships between musculoskeletal variables of the upper limbs and trunk with lower limb injuries and sports performance in athletes were included. Methods: Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were conducted according to PRISMA and Joanna Briggs Institute standards. Data analysis was descriptive and analytical, grouping studies by design and outcomes. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: A total of 94 studies were included, involving 4,416 athletes. Twenty-three studies focused on lower limb injuries, reporting a prevalence of 42.63%, with hamstring and knee injuries being the most common. Regarding performance, 71 studies identified positive associations with variables of the upper limbs and trunk. The evidence quality was classified as very low due to methodological limitations. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that musculoskeletal factors of the upper limbs and trunk are relevant to improving lower limb sports performance; however, higher-quality evidence is needed. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023432880