Factors Associated with Post-Injury Physical Therapy Compliance among University of Santo Tomas Student-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study

Aim: To identify factors associated with post-injury physical therapy compliance and provide a baseline measure of the prevalence of compliance among the University of Santo Tomas-University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UST-UAAP) athletes. Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional analytic study was conducted using data gathered from a 49-item electronic survey. Thirty-nine (39) senior-division athletes who received physical therapy after an injury completed a semi-structured, self-report questionnaire sent through their institutional emails. The questionnaire explored demographics, sports, academic, and injury background, while compliance indicators were measured using the Rehabilitation Adherence Questionnaire. Compliance was dichotomized, and between-group differences were assessed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors that are associated with compliance. Results: The prevalence of compliance to post-injury physical therapy among UST-UAAP athletes was 89.7%. Only the category of sports division (Team A) was found to be significantly associated with compliance (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 70.03, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.120 - 4381.1, p-value = 0.044). Conclusion and Implications: Most UST-UAAP athletes were compliant with post-injury physical therapy. The only predictor of compliance is sports division, with Team A athletes being more compliant. Collaborative interventions to facilitate compliance in members of Team B are recommended. Further studies on athletic compliance to PT rehabilitation in the local setting should be considered.