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Development of an Intervention Model for Sports Injury Prevention Behaviors in Male Bodybuilders: A KAP Theory Perspective

Xiang Lu · Journal of innovation and development · 2026

Researchers surveyed 434 male bodybuilders about their knowledge, attitudes, and actual practices around preventing training injuries. Knowledge scored lowest of the three, lifters with past injuries had weaker knowledge and attitudes, and attitude both predicted prevention behavior and partly explained how knowledge translated into practice, leading the authors to propose a four-stage education model.
Takeaway: Invest in learning injury-prevention basics and genuinely buying into their value, since attitude is what turns knowledge into consistent safe training habits.
Abstract (source)

Objective: To explore the current status of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) concerning sports injury prevention among male bodybuilders, analyze the interrelationships among these three dimensions, and develop an intervention model based on the KAP theory.

Methods: A mixed sampling approach combining convenience sampling and snowball sampling was employed to recruit 434 male bodybuilders, who were then assessed using a self-designed KAP questionnaire (comprising 10 questions for each dimension: knowledge, attitude, and practice).

Results: The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice dimensions were (35.86±7.55), (38.82±7.61), and (37.59±7.02) points, respectively, out of a possible 50. The score rate for practice was lower than that for attitude but higher than that for knowledge. Bodybuilders with a history of injury scored significantly lower in both the knowledge and attitude dimensions compared to those without such a history (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed positive correlations among all three dimensions (r=0.292~0.625, P<0.01). Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that attitude significantly predicted practice (β=0.217, P<0.001); the Bootstrap mediation effect test indicated that attitude partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and practice (95% CI excluded 0).

Conclusion: The sports injury prevention practices of male bodybuilders require enhancement, with attitude serving as a pivotal factor in behavior modification. Therefore, we have developed a four-stage progressive intervention model: "Knowledge Activation, Belief Shift, Practice and Rehearsal, Continuous Reinforcement".

Primary studyOpen accessInjury Prevention & Rehab
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