Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and associated risk factors in Brazilian esports players: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Electronic sports (esports) are competitive video game activities with varying physical demands depending on the game modality. Despite their growing popularity, limited research has addressed the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries in this population. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of injuries by body region in Brazilian esports players and to identify associations with injury occurrence. A total of 365 players completed an online form covering sociodemographic information, duration of esports practice, daily hours played, and injury history over the previous 12 months. Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, group comparisons (t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square), binary and multiple logistic regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Among participants, 318 (87.12%) were male, and 113 (30.96%) reported injuries within the past year. The upper limb was the most commonly affected region, with the wrist accounting for 28.49% of reported injuries. Multiple logistic regression revealed significant associations between injury occurrence and both years of practice (OR = 1.110; p  = 0.005) and weekly practice frequency (OR = 1.183; p  = 0.032). Although the ROC curve showed limited discriminative ability, these factors were linked to higher wrist injury risk. Preventive strategies should consider training volume and practice frequency.