Gender-specific physical activity-related injuries and risk factors among university students in China: a multicentre population-based cross-sectional study

Weicong Cai; Shangmin Chen; Liping Li; Pengying Yue; Xiaofan Yu; Lijie Gao; Wenda Yang; Cunxian Jia; Yang Gao

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040865

Gender-specific physical activity-related injuries and risk factors among university students in China: a multicentre population-based cross-sectional study

BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 29;10(12):e040865. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040865.

Authors

Weicong Cai^{1

2

3}, Shangmin Chen^{1

2}, Liping Li^{4

2}, Pengying Yue⁵, Xiaofan Yu⁶, Lijie Gao⁷, Wenda Yang¹, Cunxian Jia⁷, Yang Gao^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
² School of Public Health, Shantou Univeristy, Shantou, China.
³ Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China.
⁴ Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China lpli@stu.edu.cn.
⁵ School of Nursing, Xi'an Innovation College of Yan'an University, Xi'an, China.
⁶ School of Nursing & Optometry, Jiangxi Teachers College, Yingtan, China.
⁷ Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan, China.
⁸ Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
⁹ Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.

Abstract

Objectives: Data on the problem of physical activity-related injury (PARI) in university students and the risk factors for PARI among different genders are rare. We conducted a multicentre population-based study to investigate the occurrence of PARI and to explore the gender-specific risk factors for PARI among Chinese university students.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: A total of 5341 students in grades 1-3 at eight universities in four Chinese cities were selected to complete the online questionnaires during March and April 2017. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity PA) involvement, sleep duration, sedentary behaviour and PARI experiences in the past 12 months.

Main outcome measures: PARI during the past 12 months.

Results: Among the 5341 participants, 1293 suffered from at least one PARI in the past 12 months, with an overall incidence rate of 24.2% (males: 26.2%, females: 23.2%) and an injury risk of 0.38 injuries/student/year (males: 0.48, females: 0.32). Over half of the injured (57.3%) experienced a withdrawal time of PA and nearly two-fifths (39.6%) required medical attention. Irrespective of gender, Shantou and Xi'an students, sports team members and those who engaged in sports and leisure-time vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) at a higher frequency were more likely to suffer from PARI. Male students who participated in sports and leisure-time VPA for long durations had a greater likelihood of sustaining PARI, while having a chronic condition and being involved in sports and leisure-time moderate-intensity PA at a higher frequency and longer duration were potential contributors to PARI among females.

Conclusions: The occurrence of PARI and its risk factors differed by gender, which provides a direction towards developing targeted and effective gender-specific preventative programmes to protect Chinese university students from PARI.

Keywords: epidemiology; public health; sports medicine.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries* / epidemiology
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities*