Epidemiology of Upper Limb Injuries in two major Brazilian Soccer Championships from 2016 to 2019

PURPOSE: To evaluate epidemiological data of upper limb injuries in professional athletes who participated in two major Brazilian soccer championships between 2016 and 2019. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the teams of two divisions over four seasons within the Brazilian Soccer Championship and the Paulista Soccer Championship. Clubs and their doctors were contacted to participate in the study and guided on the correct way to enter data via online platforms: Transfermarkt (Transfermarkt GmbH & Co. KG) and Survey Monkey (Momentive.AI). Demographic data, injury characteristics, and FIFA Incidence Formula were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, the study analyzed 3,828 matches and 126,357 hours of play. Upper limb injuries were registered 169 times, representing 6.8% of total injuries, with a FIFA incidence of 1.34. Most lesions occurred in forward players (21.3%), the shoulder exhibited the highest number of injuries (63.3%). The player’s position was related to the location on the field where the injury occurred (p < 0.001); however, there was no relationship between the type of injury and the location on the body (p > 0.001). The average time to return to play was 19.1 days (range 0–200 days) and it was longer for goalkeepers. The necessity of surgical treatment was statistically associated with additional time to return to play (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder injuries were the most frequent upper limb injury sustained during the two major Brazilian soccer championships. Forward players suffered the most upper limb injuries and goalkeepers experienced the longest time to return to play.