Knowledge predicts agility but not power: the role of injury prevention awareness in the functional performance of female collegiate athletes

Background Injury prevention is essential for sustaining athletic performance and minimizing risks. Although knowledge and attitudes toward injury prevention are believed to influence outcomes, their relationship with functional performance remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the association between injury prevention knowledge, attitudes, and performance metrics among female collegiate athletes. Methods Sixty female collegiate athletes were recruited for this study. Injury prevention knowledge and attitudes were assessed using validated questionnaires. Functional performance was evaluated using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Countermovement Standing Long Jump (SLJ), Single-Leg Hop (SLH), and Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT). Pearson correlations and hierarchical linear regression were used to examine relationships between variables ( p < 0.05). Results The mean knowledge score was 16.3 out of 26 (SD = 4.82, 62.7% of maximum), ranging from 5 to 24. While 51.67% of the respondents showed a positive attitude, 48.33% had a suboptimal attitude. The mean SLH distances (dominant: 128.6 cm; non-dominant: 126.31 cm) exceeded the normative values. LEFT time (160 ± 19 seconds) and Peak Anaerobic Power (2,387.85 W) reflected slower completion and reduced power. SEBT scores were below 94% threshold in all directions. Knowledge was moderately correlated with LEFT ( r = − 0.42, p = 0.0009), and no significant associations were found between attitude and performance. A hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that training-related variables did not significantly predict LEFT performance. However, the inclusion of injury prevention knowledge significantly improved the model, with knowledge emerging as a significant predictor, explaining an additional 14% of the variance in LEFT performance ( β = 0.39, p = 0.003). Conclusions Knowledge of injury prevention is associated with enhanced agility in athletes. However, attitude was not significantly related to the performance outcomes. These insights underscore the importance of integrating targeted injury prevention education into training programs for female athletes.