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Excerpt
In order to evaluate 1995 and 1996 cumulative, recreational weight training injury data and to compare current trends with that of the previous decade, we analyzed US Consumer Product Safety Commission records obtained by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). NEISS monitors 91 hospital emergency rooms in the US and Puerto Rico. Weight training accounted for an estimated 56,430 emergency room visits in 1995 and 54,337 visits in 1996--and for both years, was the third highest exercise injury category behind exercise without equipment and trampolines. For 1995 and 1996, the age group injury distributions were similar: 0-4 yr, 5%; 5-14 yr, 13%; 15-24 yr, 37%; 25-44 yr, 37%; 45-64 yr, 5%; and 65 + yr, yr,≈1%. For the first time ever in 1996, at least partly attributed to our aging population, 25-44 yr olds surpassed 15-24 yr olds with the greatest number of injuries. For all groups in 1995, the top injury sites were the lower trunk (15%), finger (14%), shoulder (11%), and toe(9%). A nearly identical pattern was found for 1996. There appeared to be an injury continuum, with middle-aged groups having more centrally-located and younger- and older-aged groups having more peripherally-located anatomical sites of injury. The primary injury sites for 0-4 yr olds were the head, face, toe, and finger, while those for 25-44 yr olds were the lower trunk, shoulder, upper trunk, and finger. For 1995 and 1996, strains/sprains (40%) accounted for most injury diagnoses, while contusions/abrasions (19%), lacerations(15%), and fractures (11%) were also prevalent. The primary anatomical sites of injury and diagnoses for most recent years are identical to those for 1982, 1991, and 1992--years examined over the previous decade. Our analysis implies that many injuries are induced by inadequate warm up, mishandling or use of heavy weights, or failure of parents to adequately secure weights or supervise children.
