EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF AMATEUR ATHLETES AT A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF SAO PAULO

Introduction: Epidemiologic data about sports injuries among college athletes in Brazil is scarce.The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of sports injuries in a single center. Methods: We interviewed 262 athletes from 10 different sports retrospectively about injuries sustained in their university careers and whose injuries sustained during one season were monitored prospectively.The characterization of the injuries included data on the location of the injury, type of injury, time of year, injury mechanism, and the moment of the injury during training or a game. Results: In the university history, the incidence of injuries was higher in men (81.5%) than in women (67.8%). Lower limb injuries were the most frequent both in the university history and the season. The sports with the highest injury rate for the season was handball (34.2%) and for the university history was basketball (80.8%). The main injury mechanism was non-contact. The months with the highest incidence of injuries were those at the beginning of the season (53.3%). The most frequent diagnoses were ligament injuries, followed by fractures. Both the presence of a previous injury in the same region and the practice of weight training were predictive factors for injury. Conclusion: College athletes at this center are more likely to suffer injuries during the first months of the season, especially in contact sports involving lower limbs.