Building a culture of injury prevention in sport – The example of the Healthy Active Project

Sports injuries remain a major concern for both athlete health and performance, even though a substantial proportion of them could be prevented. While the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programmes is now well established, their routine implementation remains limited, partly due to real-world constraints and the priority often given to performance. This article reflects on the gap between scientific knowledge and everyday sports practice, drawing on the Healthy Active project. Using a qualitative and context-sensitive approach, the project seeks to better understand how prevention is perceived by key stakeholders in sport and to translate these insights into concrete actions. It highlights how targeted communication tools, the involvement of athletes as role models, and a bottom-up approach can support the gradual integration of preventive behaviours into training routines. By emphasising adaptation to the local context and the relationship between prevention and sustainable performance, this article underlines the importance of integrated and pragmatic strategies to strengthen the impact of prevention initiatives in real-world settings.