Open Access

Elke Ochsmann, Caroline Koinzer

• 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.