Musculoskeletal pains among amateur and professional athletes of five disciplines in Senegal: a preliminary study

Hassane Malam Moussa Ahmet; Elysée Claude Bika Lele; Wiliam Richard Guessogo; Wiliam Mbang Bian; Jessica Guyot; Ahmadou; Peguy Brice Assomo-Ndemba; Clarisse Noel Ayina; Loick Pradel Kojom Foko; Caroline Dupré; Nathalie Barth; Bienvenu Bongue; Abdoulaye Ba; Abdoulaye Samb; Samuel Honoré Mandengue; Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo

doi:10.1186/s12891-023-06275-3

Musculoskeletal pains among amateur and professional athletes of five disciplines in Senegal: a preliminary study

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Mar 22;24(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06275-3.

Authors

Hassane Malam Moussa Ahmet¹, Elysée Claude Bika Lele², Wiliam Richard Guessogo³, Wiliam Mbang Bian³, Jessica Guyot⁴, Ahmadou², Peguy Brice Assomo-Ndemba⁵, Clarisse Noel Ayina², Loick Pradel Kojom Foko², Caroline Dupré⁴, Nathalie Barth⁴, Bienvenu Bongue⁴, Abdoulaye Ba⁶, Abdoulaye Samb⁶, Samuel Honoré Mandengue⁶, Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo⁷

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health Sciences of the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger.
² Physical Activities and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
³ National Institute for Youth and Sports Yaounde, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁴ Mines Saint-Etienne, INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, University Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, 42023, France.
⁵ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁶ Laboratory of Physiology and Functional Explorations, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University of Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
⁷ Physical Activities and Sport Physiology and Medicine Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon. meckjerson@yahoo.fr.

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal pains (MSPs) in sport are cause of poor performances and loss of competition in athletes. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of MSPs with regard to sport disciplines and athletic status.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 Senegalese professional and amateur athletes practicing football, basketball, rugby, tennis, athletics, and wrestling. Rates of MSPs in the past year (MSPs-12) and week (MSPs-7d) were assessed using standard questionnaires.

Results: Overall proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d were 70 and 74.2%, respectively. MSPs-12 were more frequently reported on shoulders (40.6%), neck (37.1%) and hips/thigh (34.4%), while MSPs-7d were predominant on hips/thigh (29.5%), shoulders (25.7%), and upper back (17.2%). Proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d varied significantly by sport disciplines, with highest values among basketball players. Again, highest MSPs-12 proportions on shoulders (29.7%, P = 0.02), wrists/hands (34.6%, P = 0.001), (40.2%, P = 0.0002), and knees (38.8%, P = 0.002) were seen among basketball players. High proportions of MSPs-7d were seen on shoulders (29.6%, P = 0.04) for tennis players, wrists/hands (29.4%, P = 0.03) for basketball and football players, and hips/thigh (38.8%, P < 0.00001) for basketball players. Football players had reduced risk of MSPs-12 by 75% on lower back (OR = 0.25; 95% CI. 0.10-0.63; P = 0.003) and by 72% on knees (OR = 0.28; 95% CI. 0.08-0. 95; P = 0.04). In contrast, tennis players were more at risk of MSPs-12 on shoulders (OR = 3.14; 95% CI. 1.14-8.68; P = 0.02), wrists/hands (OR = 5.18; 95% CI.1.40-11.13; P = 0.01), and hips/thigh (OR = 2.90; 95% CI. 1.1-8.38; P = 0.04). Professionals were protected from MSPs-12 on neck pain with a significant reduction of risk by 61% (OR = 0.39, 95% CI. 0.21-0.75, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: MSPs are a reality among athletes and their risk is modulated by sport disciplines, athletic status and gender.

Keywords: Amateurs; Athletes; Musculoskeletal pains; Professionals; Senegal.

MeSH terms

Athletes
Athletic Injuries* / epidemiology
Basketball*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Musculoskeletal Pain*
Senegal / epidemiology