Athletes perceive weightlifting-derived movements as higher risk than other strength training modalities: A cross-sectional survey of recreational and representative athletes in Australia

Strength training is widely recommended to reduce sports-related injury risk and improve athletic performance. However, little is known about how athletes perceive the injury risk associated with different strength-training modalities. Understanding these perceptions may provide insight into athlete's engagement with strength training. An anonymous online survey was completed by 201 athletes (mean age = 27.8 ± 8.9 years) competing across contact, non-contact, and combat sports. Participants rated perceived injury risk for their sport and five strength-training modalities (weightlifting-derived movements, powerlifting movements, compound free-weight exercises, isolation free-weight exercises, and machine-based exercises) using a 10-point visual analogue scale. Logistic and linear regression analyses explored predictors of perceived risk and strength-training engagement. Participation in sport was perceived as carrying greater injury risk than all strength-training modalities. Among strength-training modalities, weightlifting-derived movements were perceived as carrying the highest injury risk, followed by powerlifting movements. These perceptions appeared inconsistent with reported injury epidemiological data demonstrating similar injury rates across weightlifting and powerlifting disciplines. Perceived injury risk of weightlifting-derived movements was not associated with current strength-training engagement. Previous sports-related injury significantly predicted engagement in strength training (OR = 4.10, 95% CI 1.65–10.19, p = .002). Recreational and representative athletes perceive substantial differences in injury risk across strength-training modalities, with weightlifting-derived movements viewed as carrying the greatest risk. These perceptions do not appear to align with available injury data and were not associated with overall strength-training engagement. Practitioners should be aware of these perceptions and consider their potential influence on athlete attitudes toward specific training modalities.