International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 3 authors, 2 centres
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This cross-sectional study of 402 Saudi adolescents (13-18 years) found that higher sedentary behaviors and lower specific knowledge about physical activity-related injuries were significant risk factors for sustaining such injuries. Boys were 3.52 times more likely to report an injury than girls.
This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for physical activity (PA)-related injuries among 402 Saudi middle and high school students (13-18 years). The study collected anthropometric data, and self-reported questionnaire data on PA levels, sedentary behaviors (SB), knowledge of PA-related injuries, and injury history. Results showed that 184 participants (45.77%) reported at least one PA-related injury in the past year. Boys (57.28%) reported significantly more injuries than girls (33.67%). The most common injury types were bruises and strains in boys, and bruises and fractures in girls. Limbs were the most injured body parts. Regression analysis identified key risk factors: being male (OR 3.52), having lower specific knowledge of PA-related injuries (β = −0.136; p = 0.001), and engaging in higher sedentary behaviors (β = 0.358; p = 0.023) were all associated with a greater likelihood of sustaining injuries. Higher SB was also associated with injuries requiring urgent medical attention. Limitations include reliance on self-report data, which may introduce recall bias, and the lack of direct measurement of PA and sedentary behavior. The findings highlight the need for targeted injury prevention education, especially for boys, and strategies to reduce sedentary time when promoting active lifestyles in this population.
