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Dr. Kantheera AREERAK PT, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Faculty of Physical Therapy
Mahidol University
Thailand
Dr. Kantheera Areerak is currently a full-time lecturer at the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Thailand. She was awarded the Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) Ph.D. Scholarship from the Thailand Research Fund. The funding from RGJ in 2012 allows Dr. Kantheera to be a research fellow at the Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Apart from teaching in the areas of sport and musculoskeletal physical therapy, she has conducted research in health literacy. Her research interest is health literacy, Sports physical therapy and Work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Previous research in terms of health literacy, she developed health literacy questionnaire to screen neck pain in office worker (The Neck pain-specific Health Behavior in Office Workers (NHBOW) questionnaire).
Health Literacy in Youth Athletes and Parents: Thailand Perspective
Compared to adult athletes, young athletes are at a higher risk of injury because their musculoskeletal systems are still growing and developing. These injuries have the potential to impair growth and result in long-term health problems if not managed properly. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health literacy as an individual's ability to comprehend, evaluate, and make decisions regarding the use of health information for healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion. Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between low health literacy and difficulty in adhering to self-care instructions. In the area of sports, it is important for athletes to have a sufficient level of health literacy, which should also include parents, especially for young athletes. Possessing adequate health literacy affects comprehension and leads to adherence to injury management and enhancement of performance in sports. In Thailand, the study of health literacy in children is related to preventing obesity, as well as addressing nutrition and dietary aspects. There is limited research dedicated to health literacy in the context of sports. Based on the 2019 national youth sports competition in Thailand, Paphawadee reported that the mean age of injured athletes was 16.5 years old, and half of injuries occurring in non-contact sports. The most frequently observed injuries were muscle strains and ligament sprains. The results from the survey align with the developmental stage of children, where the growth plate cartilage is less resistant to stress, and there is limited resistance to recurrent injuries. The decreased flexibility of muscles during rapid growth further increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. These factors not only contribute to an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries but also have an impact on long-term performance and may lead to the potential cessation of sports activities. Therefore, possessing proper knowledge of injury management can be effective in preventing these problems.