People of all ages enjoy weight training as a way to get and stay in shape. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the activity has increased, so has the number of injuries. With proper instruction, form and spotting, however, many weight training-related injuries can be prevented.

Weight Training Injury Facts

Common injuries are sprains and strains.




The body parts most commonly injured are the trunk and hands.




Injuries often occur when weights are dropped on a person or a body
part gets smashed between weights.

Child and Youth Injury Facts

Youths, ages 13-24, are the most at risk for injury.




Teens are often injured using free weights.




Cuts and broken bones are more common injuries for children, ages
12 years and younger, than participants 13 years and older.

Older Participants Injury Facts

People 55 years and older are injured more often using machines
than free weights.




Overexertion injuries are more common among older weight training
participants.

Weight Training Safety Tips

Inspect free weights regularly for defects and check that the
weights are secured so that they do not fall in the middle of a
set.




Select equipment and weight limits that can be handled effectively
and use a spotter when using free weights to maintain control.




Start with lighter weights and work up to heavier weights.




Carefully follow all safety instructions on weight-training
machines.




Children and youths should carefully plan their weight-training
program with guidance from their parents, coaches and doctors.




Youths should always have trained supervision when weight training.




Older participants, ages 55 years and older, should understand
their lifting capabilities and proper operation of any machine they
use.

Additional Weight Training Resources

Epidemiology of weight training-related injuries presenting to United States emergency departments, 1990 to 2007

PubMed Abstract - April 2010 Press Release - March 2010

People of all ages enjoy weight training as a way to get and stay in shape. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the activity has increased, so has the number of injuries. With proper instruction, form and spotting, however, many weight training-related injuries can be prevented.

Weight Training Injury Facts

Common injuries are sprains and strains.




The body parts most commonly injured are the trunk and hands.




Injuries often occur when weights are dropped on a person or a body
part gets smashed between weights.

Child and Youth Injury Facts

Youths, ages 13-24, are the most at risk for injury.




Teens are often injured using free weights.




Cuts and broken bones are more common injuries for children, ages
12 years and younger, than participants 13 years and older.

Older Participants Injury Facts

People 55 years and older are injured more often using machines
than free weights.




Overexertion injuries are more common among older weight training
participants.

Weight Training Safety Tips

Inspect free weights regularly for defects and check that the
weights are secured so that they do not fall in the middle of a
set.




Select equipment and weight limits that can be handled effectively
and use a spotter when using free weights to maintain control.




Start with lighter weights and work up to heavier weights.




Carefully follow all safety instructions on weight-training
machines.




Children and youths should carefully plan their weight-training
program with guidance from their parents, coaches and doctors.




Youths should always have trained supervision when weight training.




Older participants, ages 55 years and older, should understand
their lifting capabilities and proper operation of any machine they
use.

Additional Weight Training Resources

Epidemiology of weight training-related injuries presenting to United States emergency departments, 1990 to 2007

PubMed Abstract - April 2010 Press Release - March 2010

People of all ages enjoy weight training as a way to get and stay in shape. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the activity has increased, so has the number of injuries. With proper instruction, form and spotting, however, many weight training-related injuries can be prevented.

Weight Training Injury Facts

Common injuries are sprains and strains.




The body parts most commonly injured are the trunk and hands.




Injuries often occur when weights are dropped on a person or a body
part gets smashed between weights.

Child and Youth Injury Facts

Youths, ages 13-24, are the most at risk for injury.




Teens are often injured using free weights.




Cuts and broken bones are more common injuries for children, ages
12 years and younger, than participants 13 years and older.

Older Participants Injury Facts

People 55 years and older are injured more often using machines
than free weights.




Overexertion injuries are more common among older weight training
participants.

Weight Training Safety Tips

Inspect free weights regularly for defects and check that the
weights are secured so that they do not fall in the middle of a
set.




Select equipment and weight limits that can be handled effectively
and use a spotter when using free weights to maintain control.




Start with lighter weights and work up to heavier weights.




Carefully follow all safety instructions on weight-training
machines.




Children and youths should carefully plan their weight-training
program with guidance from their parents, coaches and doctors.




Youths should always have trained supervision when weight training.




Older participants, ages 55 years and older, should understand
their lifting capabilities and proper operation of any machine they
use.

Additional Weight Training Resources

Epidemiology of weight training-related injuries presenting to United States emergency departments, 1990 to 2007

PubMed Abstract - April 2010 Press Release - March 2010

People of all ages enjoy weight training as a way to get and stay in shape. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the activity has increased, so has the number of injuries. With proper instruction, form and spotting, however, many weight training-related injuries can be prevented.

Weight Training Injury Facts

  • Common injuries are sprains and strains.
  • The body parts most commonly injured are the trunk and hands.
  • Injuries often occur when weights are dropped on a person or a body
  • part gets smashed between weights.

Child and Youth Injury Facts

  • Youths, ages 13-24, are the most at risk for injury.
  • Teens are often injured using free weights.
  • Cuts and broken bones are more common injuries for children, ages
  • 12 years and younger, than participants 13 years and older.

Older Participants Injury Facts

  • People 55 years and older are injured more often using machines
  • than free weights.
  • Overexertion injuries are more common among older weight training
  • participants.

Weight Training Safety Tips

  • Inspect free weights regularly for defects and check that the
  • weights are secured so that they do not fall in the middle of a
  • set.
  • Select equipment and weight limits that can be handled effectively
  • and use a spotter when using free weights to maintain control.
  • Start with lighter weights and work up to heavier weights.
  • Carefully follow all safety instructions on weight-training
  • machines.
  • Children and youths should carefully plan their weight-training
  • program with guidance from their parents, coaches and doctors.
  • Youths should always have trained supervision when weight training.
  • Older participants, ages 55 years and older, should understand
  • their lifting capabilities and proper operation of any machine they
  • use.

Additional Weight Training Resources

  • Epidemiology of weight training-related injuries presenting to United States emergency departments, 1990 to 2007

  • PubMed Abstract - April 2010

  • Press Release - March 2010

    Common injuries are sprains and strains.

    The body parts most commonly injured are the trunk and hands.

    Injuries often occur when weights are dropped on a person or a body part gets smashed between weights.

    Youths, ages 13-24, are the most at risk for injury.

    Teens are often injured using free weights.

    Cuts and broken bones are more common injuries for children, ages 12 years and younger, than participants 13 years and older.

    People 55 years and older are injured more often using machines than free weights.

    Overexertion injuries are more common among older weight training participants.

    Inspect free weights regularly for defects and check that the weights are secured so that they do not fall in the middle of a set.

    Select equipment and weight limits that can be handled effectively and use a spotter when using free weights to maintain control.

    Start with lighter weights and work up to heavier weights.

    Carefully follow all safety instructions on weight-training machines.

    Children and youths should carefully plan their weight-training program with guidance from their parents, coaches and doctors.

    Youths should always have trained supervision when weight training.

    Older participants, ages 55 years and older, should understand their lifting capabilities and proper operation of any machine they use.

  • PubMed Abstract - April 2010

  • Press Release - March 2010