Physical Activity-Related Injuries and Their Risk Factors Among Adolescents in Selected Schools - Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives The objective of this study is to establish the prevalence of physical activity-related injury (PARI) and its risk factors among adolescents in urban Mangaluru, and to compare the severity of injuries in males vs. females. Material and Methods This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in six schools. A sample size of 400 was obtained through cluster random sampling. Socio-demographic factors, PARI experiences in the past 12 months, and risk factors were obtained through self-administered questionnaires and summarised using descriptive statistics. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the effects of the risk factors on injury occurrence. Results The overall injury rate was 44.7% in 12 months, with the majority being minor injuries (71%). Male participants suffered more severe injuries with higher school absences from the next day following injury due to its effects, compared to females (p < 0.05). Injury risk was significantly associated with paternal seasonal employment, greater than 120 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, screen-based sedentary behaviour, participation in high-impact sports, lack of pre-activity warm-ups, and playing on uneven surfaces. Conclusion PARI was prevalent among school students in Mangaluru. Even though most injuries were minor, the findings reveal that environmental and lifestyle determinants can influence injury, highlighting the need to promote safety practices, parental involvement, and supervision of lifestyle patterns.