Hike in horror gym injuries
Claims for gym injuries have tripled in the past six years, costing taxpayers $33 million in 2017, and they include horrific injuries.
Injury claims hiked from 18,000 in 2011 to 53,000 last year and the amount paid out more than tripled from $9 million in 2011, according to ACC data.
Among last year’s injuries, were 13 hernias, 11 burns, 52 brain injuries or concussions, 177 dental injuries and almost 800 fractures and dislocations. The majority, more than 50,000, were soft tissue injuries, including contusion, internal organ injuries and strains.
‘‘It is no surprise that we see more injuries from gyms, as there is significant growth in this area,’’ Auckland physiotherapist Ashley Lake said.
With gym-based exercise, such as strength training and functional training, among the top five fitness trends internationally,
‘‘People may push themselves too far because their mates are doing an extra set.’’
and the number of gyms in New Zealand increasing, it was a numbers game, Lake said.
Unsupervised 24-hour gyms meant clients were exercising with no supervision and poor technique, which might also be a contributory factor.
‘‘Another factor is possibly the peer pressure in group training scenarios, where people may push themselves too far because their mates are doing an extra set, or the trainer is encouraging them to go for it.’’
Lake said it was important to manage the risk of injuries by managing intensity, and ensuring good technique, particularly in novices.
‘‘If a gym-goer increases too rapidly the volume or intensity of their workouts then they increase injury risk,’’ Lake said.
Even if a workout was supervised, not all personal trainers had the same level of qualification, and gyms were not a regulated industry.
In New Zealand, there were more than 27 different fitness certificates, Justine Bishop from New Zealand Institute of Health and Fitness Albany campus said.
‘‘The issue we run into, is that not all courses are NZQA recognised and many have little to no external auditing to ensure a minimum standard is being adhered to,’’ Bishop said.
‘‘This is not to say that every personal trainer who hasn’t done a certain course isn’t good quality, but we definitely recommend doing your homework.’’
Most gyms would require personal trainers to have the minimum qualifications, Bishop said.