What’s behind the rapid rise in gym injuries in New Zealand?
ACC claims for gym-related injuries have soared to 52,964 in 2017 from 17,694 in 2011. These figures, recently reported in the media, are alarming and there are calls to investigate the claims, improve public awareness and regulate the sports industry in New Zealand.
Increased usage could be the answer, but the Exercise Association has confirmed that while gym attendance has increased by 50 per cent in the past five years, the rate of injury is rising at a faster pace than the increase in people heading to the gym. They are now working with ACC to review the problem.
Wintec Sport Science and Human Performance academic Lynne O’Malley agrees that questions need to asked and claims reviewed, but says there’s an underlying issue of some trainers lacking qualifications and an associated knowledge of sport science who are doing more harm than good.
“If you lack qualifications, ` you do not know what you do not know’ and the more confidence you have, the easier it is to attract gullible clients,” she says.
“Anyone can take an online course and call himself or herself a ‘personal trainer’ regardless of whether they have any weight training experience or understand the essential principles of training.
“The problem is, that with less knowledge, it is easier to convince yourself that you are an `expert’ regardless of whether you are, or not.”
Lynne says the $32.33 million injury costs currently incurred to the taxpayer could be an incentive to spend more on education of the public and injury prevention and suggests a three-pronged approach to the problem.
“There needs to be an analysis of the activities clients are engaged in. What type of activity are these people involved in when they are injured? Were they using a trainer, if so what qualifications did the trainer have?
“We also need a public education campaign, to ‘let the buyer beware’ but inform them first. And thirdly, greater acknowledgement and encouragement of accreditation for degree-qualified candidates wanting to work in the fitness industry with New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand (SESNZ) an organisation that supports training and employment.”
Fitness, wellness and vitality should be the by-products of a thriving fitness industry. With the proliferation of franchises, 24-hr availability and the competitive nature of the industry, the reality is that memberships are cheap, (some as low as $6.99/week) and this can mean low supervision and unqualified trainers. Lynne says these are all factors that contribute to the risk of injury.
The good news is within the fitness industry, there are organisations that will only hire suitably qualified individuals with passion and the qualifications to train others well.
To check whether a trainer has a recognised qualification, search the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS).
Read the full story from Lynne O’Malley on The Coach, Wintec’s sport and fitness blog here.
Find out more about getting qualified with the Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance.
