Abstract
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered as one of the most common diseases affecting the joints worldwide. This study was aimed to assess the perceptions of vigorous exercises affecting hip and knee OA risk among female gym members in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Qassim region including Buraydah, Unayzah, and Ar Rass. Participants were female gym members of age 18 years or older, doing regular exercise in the gym. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the female gym members using an online platform. All statistical data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.
Results: The overall perception of participants toward vigorous exercise was good among 57.2%, whereas it was poor among 42.8%. The most common physical activity was walking (62.9%), followed by squatting (52.5%) and running on the treadmill (48.8%), whereas the most frequently cited sources of advice with regard to routine gym exercise was the internet (36.1%) and athletic therapist (15.1%). When comparing the perception score among the basic demographic data and physical activity of women, it was found that those living inside Buraydah were significantly less with perception score (T = −2.056; p = 0.041), whereas those obese participants (F = 3.268; p = 0.035) and those who were having less than once per week of high-intensity exercise (F = 3.268; p = 0.008) were significantly more, having a better perception toward vigorous exercise.
Conclusion: The perception of women toward vigorous exercise that increased the risk of OA was deemed sufficient. Being obese and being less doing intensity exercise were significantly more associated with good perception, whereas living in Buraydah was a detrimental factor in perception toward vigorous exercise.

Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, vigorous exercise, perceptions, physical activity, Gym