Injury incidence and prevention beliefs in Brazilian amateur soccer: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionSoccer, the world's most popular sport, provides health benefits but also poses risks, especially in unsupervised amateur play. Musculoskeletal injuries affect both individual and team performance, underscoring the need to explore contributing factors, attitudes, and barriers to injury prevention programs for a safer sporting environment. ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence of injuries among amateur soccer players, explore beliefs related to injury prevention, and identify the preventive strategies adopted by this population. MethodsThis was a retrospective epidemiological, cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study utilizing a quantitative approach. Data were collected via a digital survey from June 10 to August 31, 2024. ResultsAmong 90 respondents, 88 were analyzed, with an injury incidence rate of 11.46 per 1,000 hours. The knee (21.8%) and ankle (20.9%) were most affected, followed by the thigh (10.9%), hip/groin (9.1%), and lower back (9.1%). Injuries caused absence from soccer in 86% of cases (mean recovery: 30 +/- 70 days). Physiotherapy was sought by 43.8%, physician consultation by 38.5%, while 12.3% did not seek medical help. Although 90.9% valued injury prevention, 33% had never received guidance. Main reported causes were insufficient recovery (35%) and excessive matches (30%). Additionally, 65% acknowledged their coach's influence on prevention adherence. Open-ended responses highlighted intrinsic risks and extrinsic factors. ConclusionThe findings indicate a moderate injury incidence, particularly in the lower limbs, reinforcing the multifactorial nature of injuries in amateur soccer. Despite recognizing the importance of injury prevention, many players lack guidance and structured prevention programs.