Which gym equipment is the most dangerous?

For a lot of people, the start of a new year brings the opportunity to get into a better physical shape, and the gym is a great place to start training, with approximately 184.61 million members of a health and fitness club, worldwide.¹

However, if you don’t use gym equipment correctly, then instead of getting stronger and fitter, you could cause yourself an injury – some minor, and some more serious. More intense injuries, such as a shoulder or elbow injury from incorrect use of a gym machine, could be serious enough to land you in hospital as an inpatient requiring ongoing care. As experts in health insurance, we recognise the benefits that private health insurance could have in these instances, such as allowing you to choose your own available doctor in the event of required surgery, as well as having your own room in a private hospital (subject to availability).

So, what are some of the most common gym-related injuries? Using data from the US, we were able to determine the number of exercise equipment-related injuries reported in 2021, to see which caused the most injuries, as well as the most common types, and which area of the body is most susceptible to injury.

Weights are the most dangerous gym equipment

It goes without saying, that weights are the most dangerous type of equipment you’ll find at the gym, with 1,166 cases of related injury reported. Not only can lifting weights that are too heavy (or holding them incorrectly) cause an injury, but so can dropping them. So, whilst you may want to push yourself, it’s important you don’t try and lift weights that are too heavy.

In second place, with 482 reported cases, is the treadmill. A classic piece of gym equipment, whether you regularly run long-distances on it at high speed or use it for cooling down, for a lot of gym bunnies, the treadmill is a regular part of their workout routine.

However, because the floor of the treadmill doesn’t absorb much impact, prolonged use of it can cause knee and hip pains… not to mention, if you set it too fast, you could fall off and hurt yourself!

The third-most dangerous piece of gym equipment, with 259 cases, is the exercise bike – and again, the source of most injuries on this can be caused by not using it properly. For instance, if you hunch too far forwards over the handles, then you could end up suffering from back and shoulder pain, and if you don’t hold onto the handles correctly, then you could strain your wrists.

Bench presses and rowing machines are in fourth and fifth place, with bench presses capable of damaging your shoulder muscles if not used correctly – and the worst-case scenario being a couple of cracked ribs if you drop it on yourself.

With rowing machines, you could end up with a whole host of pain in your back, knees, and wrists if you don’t have the correct posture while you’re using it.

Top tips on how to avoid injury when exercising

Of course, for most people, a trip to the gym doesn’t result in an injury, but it’s always better to be on the safe side. These tips will help you to reduce your chance of aches, pains, and full-blown injuries.

1. Warm up and cool down properly

Whether your preferred form of exercise is long-distance running, a dance class, or lifting weights, you should always make time to both warm up and cool down appropriately. Spending 10 minutes warming up will get your blood flowing and should help you to become more flexible – think light jogging, lunges, and squats.

Cool downs are equally as important, as failing to do so could cause you to strain your muscles – all you need to do is turn down the intensity of your workout. For instance, if you’ve spent 30 minutes running on the treadmill, turn that into a slow jog, followed by a walk.

2. Learn the right technique

If you’ve just signed up at a new gym, ask for an induction so that you can have a proper demonstration of how to use all the equipment. If you’re still unsure, it might be worth paying for a couple of personal training sessions, so you can learn the proper form when doing exercises.

Whilst it can be tempting to jump straight in, as you can see, poor posture and incorrect use of machines is the root cause of a lot of injuries.

3. Listen to your body

Sometimes you just don’t feel like exercising, and it’s important to recognise the difference between when you’re feeling lazy, or when your body’s genuinely tired and you feel like you physically can’t handle a workout.

When exercising, pay attention to your body at all times. If you’re lifting weights and find your shoulder’s twinging, then don’t power through, as that could make it worse.

As Anthony Fleming, General Manager of Health Insurance at Compare the Market Australia states: “Whilst that burst of energy you feel just before a workout can leave you wanting to jump straight in, it’s important you know the correct techniques and ways of using the equipment, so you don’t get injured unnecessarily.

“However, sometimes injuries do happen and in some cases, this can land you in public hospital emergency departments. In instances like these, private health insurance can be useful for ongoing care and support. Having a private health insurance policy in place ensures you are prepared for that possibility, so you can spend less time worrying about the expense and more time focusing on a safe and healthy recovery.”

You can use Compare the Market’s free health insurance comparison tool to look for a policy that is most suitable for you and your personal circumstances.