Most world-class track and field athletes have low musculoskeletal health literacy
Key takeaways:
- Most world-leading track and field athletes lack sufficient musculoskeletal health literacy.
- High socioeconomic status was associated with increased levels of literacy and load adjustments in adult athletes.
Results published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found most world-leading track and field athletes lack sufficient musculoskeletal health literacy.
Researchers analyzed musculoskeletal health literacy and injury acknowledgment in 780 adult (n = 362) and youth (n = 418) track and field athletes who were preparing for World Championships. The athletes completed the preparticipation health questionnaire and the Literacy in Musculoskeletal Problems instrument. The primary outcome measure was injury acknowledgement during the 4-week preparation period before World Championships, according to the study.
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Overall, 26% of the athletes demonstrated sufficient musculoskeletal health literacy, with 41% of adult athletes and 13% of youth athletes demonstrating sufficient literacy.
Researchers noted higher socioeconomic status in adult athletes was associated with higher levels of musculoskeletal health literacy and a higher probability of acknowledging an injury by reduction in training load. They also noted athletes with sufficient musculoskeletal health literacy who were in middle socioeconomic levels had a decreased likelihood of acknowledging an injury during tapering.
“Adequate health literacy and ample support resources should be established for leading [athletic] athletes together to guide appropriate load adjustments in association with injury symptoms,” the researchers wrote in the study.