Update On US Resistance Training Injuries & Deaths

Abstract

For 15 yr, we have investigated resistance training injuries and deaths in the US. From Mar 1991 to Apr 1992, we documented 12 fatalities (1 every 32 d), 11 involving males in the home, with asphyxia/anoxia and neck/chest compression implicating the bench press. From Jan to Nov 1998, there were 9 deaths (1 every 34 d), all males, 8 in the home, 8 with asphyxia, and 5 with bench presses. From Jan 1999 to Dec 2002, there were 20 deaths, 14 with asphyxia and 12 with the bench press. In Mar 2003, we requested that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) require a warning label on all manufactured bench presses to reduce/eliminate deaths due to asphyxia/anoxia caused by neck/chest compression. PURPOSE & METHODS To investigate recent resistance training injuries and deaths, we analyzed US CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data, and Death Certificate, Reported Incident, and Accident Investigation files from Jan 2002 to present. RESULTS For 2002 and 2003, there were an estimated 71699 and 74014 hospital-reported resistance training injuries, respectively. For 2003, the most prominent injury sites were the lower trunk (13246, 18%), shoulder (9933, 13%), finger (8038, 11%), upper trunk (7851, 11%), toe (6111, 8%) and foot (5212, 7%). The top diagnoses were strains/sprains (29431, 40%), contusions/abrasions (12285, 17%), fractures (9201, 12%), and lacerations (6264, 8%). Males accounted for 79% (58392), while females accounted for 21% (15622) of all injuries. The 25–44 (28524, 39%) and 15–24 yr (25809, 35%) age groups accounted for most injuries. 27% of injuries were in the home, 19% in sports facilities, and 10% in schools. An estimated 98% of patients (72494) were treated and released, while <1% (691) were hospitalized. A 2003 NEISS report estimated that approximately 68 fatalities were associated with weight training, yet a search of death certificate files confirmed only 5 deaths from Jan 2002 to present: all 5 were males, 4 were in the home, and 4 involved asphyxia and bench presses. CONCLUSIONS Injury distributions for resistance training appear similar to trends over the recent decade. While only 5 fatalities have been documented since Jan 2002, asphyxia mechanisms appear dominant and strikingly similar as in the past, and continue to implicate the home bench press as a dangerous exercise. We predict that given the significant delay (up to well over 1 yr) between the date of death and inclusion in US CPSC files, that more deaths have occurred, but are yet to be reported. Sports medicine professionals together with the US CPSC can help elevate public awareness of weight training injuries and deaths to maximize safe and effective training for all.