Analgesic drug use of recreational and competitive badminton players: Starting points for prevention

The objective of this survey was to assess badminton‐related pain and analgesic drug use in recreational as well as competitive badminton players and to identify factors influencing analgesic drug use in order to create effective preventive strategies. A cross‐sectional study addressed all adult badminton players/members registered in the regional badminton association of Saxony, Germany. Badminton‐related pain prevalence and analgesic drug use were assessed. Also, predictors for analgesic drug use were identified. Altogether 247 badminton club members (65% male) participated in the study. Lifetime prevalence of badminton‐related pain was 95%, and one‐year prevalence was 73%. Of the participants with badminton‐related pain during the last year, 56% used analgesic drugs; of the participants without badminton‐related pain during the last year, 31% used analgesic drugs. Significant predictors were players’ attitudes toward analgesics as doping substances, self‐perceived knowledge about effects and side effects, being influenced by others, and self‐perceived “sporting culture” in badminton. A gap between self‐perceived and actual knowledge about adverse effects can be a first starting point for the prevention of dangerous analgesic drug use in badminton.