Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in kabaddi players : a cross sectional study

This cross-sectional observational study aims to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among recreational and competitive Kabaddi players in Belagavi district. Kabaddi is a high-intensity contact sport involving frequent tackling, rapid directional changes, jumping, and forceful physical contact, which exposes players to a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Players often train and compete on varying surfaces such as mud and synthetic mats, which further influences injury risk. Musculoskeletal injuries in Kabaddi commonly affect the lower limbs, particularly the knee and ankle, as well as the shoulder, back, and calf muscles, leading to pain, functional limitations, and reduced sports performance.A total of 94 Kabaddi players aged 18–30 years will be recruited using convenience sampling. The study will follow a cross-sectional observational design. Data will be collected using the Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, a validated and reliable tool (ICC = 0.90) that assesses the presence, severity, and functional impact of musculoskeletal symptoms across multiple body regions over the past 12 months and the previous 7 days.Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to determine injury prevalence across different body regions. The findings of this study will provide region-specific epidemiological data on injury patterns in Kabaddi players, which will help in developing targeted injury prevention strategies, training modifications, awareness programs, and evidence-based rehabilitation protocols to improve athlete safety and performance