Self-perceived knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding knee ligament injuries among sports enthusiasts

Sports enthusiasts frequently experience knee ligament injuries. This study assessed their self-perceived knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding such injuries. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2025 to January 2026. Demographic information and self-perceived knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 500 valid responses were obtained. Among the respondents, 264 (52.8%) were female. Additionally, 176 participants (35.2%) reported having experienced sports-related injuries within the past year. The mean scores for self-perceived knowledge, attitude, and practice were 12.07 ± 7.24 (possible range: 0–26), 31.68 ± 3.84 (possible range: 8–40), and 31.11 ± 7.36 (possible range: 9–45), respectively. Structural equation modeling showed that self-perceived knowledge was positively associated with attitude ( β = 0.35, P < 0.001) and practice ( β = 0.56, P < 0.001), while attitude was positively associated with practice ( β = 0.20, P < 0.001). The indirect association between self-perceived knowledge and practice through attitude was β = 0.07 ( P < 0.001). In this sample, higher self-perceived knowledge was associated with more positive attitudes and preventive practices regarding knee ligament injuries. These findings suggest the potential value of targeted educational interventions, but whether increasing familiarity leads to behavioral improvements requires confirmation in longitudinal or interventional studies.