PeerJ Reviewer Match - Physical Inactivity and FMS

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Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Lifestyle: Association with Functional performance and injury risk among college students

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior negatively impact physical health and functional movement quality, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle with functional movement patterns among undergraduate students at Kuwait University's Health Science Center (HSC).

Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Seventy participants (aged 18 to 26) were recruited from various HSC faculties. Assessment included demographic data collection, the short form of the IPAQ, the REEDCO Posture Assessment, and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), which evaluates movement quality, asymmetries, and risk of injury across seven standardized tests. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS for Windows, version 29.0.

Results: The sample included 41 females (58.6%) and 29 males (41.4%) with a mean age of 20.6 ± 1.3 years and a BMI of 24.1 ± 4.3. The average daily step count was 5,369 ± 2,750, with an average of 7.13 hours of sitting reported daily. The mean total FMS score was 13.2 ± 2.2; 44.3% of participants scored ≥14, while 55.7% scored <14, indicating an elevated risk of injury. A significant positive correlation was found between PA category and total FMS score (p = 0.03). Push-ups (p < 0.001) and rotatory stability (p = 0.037) were significantly associated with PA level. Males scored significantly higher than females in total FMS (p = 0.015), step count (p = 0.005), and PA level (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Higher physical activity levels are associated with better functional movement quality, suggesting the importance of active lifestyles in reducing movement dysfunction and potential risk of injury.

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