publicationmedia-verification" content="e1322166-9f17-48d2-91a8-6ef3e24e5faa

Have you suffered a “Gym-jury”?

Anyone who reads my blog will know I am a total gym nut. I go 3-4 times a week and love it. It keeps me fit, clears my head and allows me to have a little me time. I love to listen to my music and escape!

The problem with working out (and getting a little older) is you are a bit more at risk of getting injured. I’m not very good at stretching for long enough at the end of a session and I don’t always listen to my body. This is something I get told off for a lot by my physio. I already have a knee injury I am being careful over.

Bottom line is we need to take it easy when we start training. A report* recently suggested that over half of us have injured ourselves when hitting the gym to lose some weight. According to the report, 45% of all British adults hit the gym or exercise specifically to get shape for a holiday, with one in 10 claiming they undergo a vigorous fitness regime in order to shift the pounds in time. One in ten of us have sought medical advice after an injury! (me included).

I have been seeing a physio on and off for 3 years after my first knee operation and one in twenty of us will be doing this or seeing a chiropractor after developing a long term exercise-related injury. My physio is very specific about listening to my body and stopping if I feel pain. This same research suggests 9% of us will carry on exercising, despite horrific pain. Not good at all.

The study in question was conducted by personal injury solicitors, Hayward Baker, who found that when it comes to their health, one in twenty British adults admit they don’t know how to use gym equipment correctly suggesting that they might never have been shown at the time of signing up for their membership. The infographic below shows more information too.

Worryingly, 38% claim they never bother to warm-up before exercising, going against the expert advice from their gym or PT. It is so important to ask first. I have been at the gym for 10 years now and still ask the instructors to show me how to use the machines first. I am very vary of another injury.

The research also revealed one in ten have gone full throttle and not built up their miles when attempting long distance running and many are attempting to lift weights that are far too heavy for them.

The most common injury Brits inflict on themselves is a sprained ankle (21%), but 18% suffer with a back-problem due to badly executed exercise. Sixteen percent have broken either their arm, leg or hand after sport or physical activity – and worryingly one in ten claim to suffer from chest pain and 5% have slipped a disc.

The survey* was commissioned as many gym members do not know that, if a gym-injury or accident occurred in a leisure facility, the management could be liable to prosecution following a claim as it’s their responsibility to reduce the risks.

The personal injury solicitor’s free to use interactive injury compensation calculator provides estimates of how much compensation you could be entitled to following an “gym-jury” or accident in a leisure facility.

The study also found that 28% of respondents said the phrase ‘all the gear, but no idea’ probably applied to them. I do often see this in my gym. People who look great; fab kit and ready to go. However, if you watch them work out, it is clear they have had no advice.

To me it is very clear. ASK for help from a gym instructor and personal trainer. Listen to your body and stop if you feel pain that does not appear to be from just working hard. You don’t want a “gym-jury” which could stop you from working out in the future!

*The study was commissioned by Hayward Baker and conducted by Ginger Polls. More than 1500 people – 875 women and 625 men over 18 years old – were surveyed online in June 2017.

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.

Share: