Level Of Knowledge Among Sports Participants Regarding Injury Prevention

Abstract

Background

Sports injury is one of the risks frequently experienced by individuals who engage in physical activity, and it can have an impact on a decline in performance, disturbance of bodily function, and even a decline in quality of life. One factor that plays a role in injury prevention efforts is the level of knowledge of sports participants regarding appropriate preventive measures.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of sports participants regarding injury prevention during exercise, covering the aspects of warm-up, sports technique, cool-down, the use of sports equipment, knowledge of injury, and recovery (recovery).

Methods

This study used a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey method. The research sample consisted of 55 respondents, who were selected using the purposive sampling technique, with the criteria of being at least 18 years old, actively engaging in sport, and being willing to complete the questionnaire. The research instrument was a questionnaire consisting of 25 statement items using a four-point Likert scale. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency, percentage, mean value (mean), standard deviation, minimum value, and maximum value.

Results

The research results show that the level of knowledge of sports participants regarding injury prevention is in the high category. The indicator with the highest mean value is recovery (3.72), followed by warm-up (3.66), sports technique (3.56), knowledge of injury (3.43), cool-down (3.39), and the use of sports equipment (3.38). These findings show that most respondents already have a good understanding of the steps for injury prevention before, during, and after exercise.

Conclusion

Accordingly, a good level of knowledge is expected to support the application of safer sporting behaviour and to contribute to reducing the risk of injury. Nevertheless, education regarding injury prevention still needs to be improved, so that the understanding of sports participants becomes more evenly distributed and is able to be applied consistently in sporting activity.