What Should You Do After A Gym Injury?
You’re feeling on top of your New Year’s resolutions. You’re eating well, meditating, and hitting the gym. Perhaps you’re an avid gym goer. Or, maybe this is the year you’re going to start making the gym a part of your daily routine. Either way, you can be susceptible to a gym injury. Even the most experienced can slip and fall on the gym floor.
What if you get seriously injured? If you got hurt at a gym or fitness class, you’ll want to make sure you get the medical care you need. You may also want to see if there are any legal actions you can take.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
Most Common Accidents At The Gym
Gym accidents can result from weight training, exercise equipment, fitness classes or even working at a fitness center or gym. As gym memberships, athletic clubs, and fitness classes increase, so do accidents.
Gym Accident Statistics
- 1,500 people treated in the emergency room after an injury from gym equipment in 2009
- Over 970,000 people treated in the emergency room for weight training-related injuries from 1990 to 2007
- 114 people died using free weights and weight machines between 1990 and 2007
- About 459,978 people injured while exercising or using exercising equipment in 2012
- About 16,500 children between 5-14 years old injured on exercise equipment annually
- Over 10,000 people treated in emergency rooms in the US for injuries from sports, recreation, and exercise every day
Common Gym Injuries
- Back pain or strain. Low back pain could be the result of strained muscles around the spine. This can lead to nerve compression or disk herniation.
- Elbow pain. Lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow” is a common injury not just for tennis players. If you use weights that are too heavy or repeating the same exercises every workout session you are at risk for elbow pain.
- Groin pull. Groin pulls happen during squats, lunges, sprints, or any sudden movement that pushes the muscles too far. The risk of groin pulls also increases as you get older.
- IT band issues. The iliotibial band is a band of ligaments that runs along the outside of your leg from the knee to the hip. The IT band can get tight and inflamed from overuse, a rapid increase in mileage, or running on uneven surfaces. Using old shoes or doing a repetitive motion like cycling or spin class can also cause IT band issues.
- Knee pain. Patellofemoral syndrome, also known as “runner’s knee,” is typically a vague discomfort around the kneecap. This discomfort is usually related to poor tracking of the patella (kneecap). Knee pain can be caused by using weights that are too heavy, running too many inclines, improper knee alignment during weighted repetitions.
- Neck pain. Neck injuries can result from crunches or improper form during other exercises.
- Pectoral strain. A pectoral strain results from a sudden overload to the tissue around your chest. If you perform a bench press that is too heavy, you could strain your chest.
- Rotator cuff injury. A rotator cuff is a group of muscles that support your shoulder joint. Repetitive overhead movements like throwing a ball or swimming can cause a rotator cuff strain.
- Shin splints. Medial tibial stress syndrome is also known as shin splints. Shin splints occur when overstressed muscles in the front lower leg cause pain along the inner edge of your shinbone. Runners frequently get shin splints, especially if running on hard surfaces or running in old worn-out shoes.
- Sprained ankle. When the foot turns inward and the ankle joint rolls too far, it can tear the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Running on a treadmill, especially, can put you at risk for a sprained ankle. You might lose your focus and accidentally put one foot on the side, while the other is on the belt still in motion.
- Wrist strain. Your wrist can get overloaded or overworked by too many exercises that place stress onto your wrist joint. For example, too many barbell curls or pushups can strain the muscles surrounding the wrist and cause pain.
As you can see, there are many forms of injuries you can sustain at the gym. If you’ve been injured at a gym in or near Las Vegas, you’ll want to discuss your situation with our attorneys at Anthem Injury Lawyers. It’s important to not assume that if you signed a waiver upon joining the gym, that you have no recourse should you suffer an injury there. We will talk to you to determine if there were negligent actions on the part of the gym that may have contributed to your situation, potentially causing your injury. Our experience can help establish if you have a case, and if so, how we would proceed to help you gain compensation for your injuries. Call Anthem Injury Lawyers now at (702) 857-6000 for your Free consultation.
What to do to Protect Yourself
To avoid gym accidents make sure you’re trained or prepared to do any strenuous physical activity before trying it for the first time. If you are lifting weights, have a spotter. If you are running on the treadmill, make sure you have the proper shoes.
But if you find yourself injured at the gym, there are a few steps you should take:
- Rest. Stop exercising, turn off whatever equipment, and don’t return to that workout until you feel better or get an okay from a doctor.
- Go to the doctor. The sooner you see a doctor the better. A minor strain could turn out to be a major fracture. Your doctor will be able to diagnose you and give you the necessary treatment.
- Ice the injury. Apply ice to your injury 10 to 15 minutes at a time multiple times a day to reduce any swelling.
- Compress the injury. Applying a compression bandage to your injury helps minimize any swelling.
- Elevate the injury. If it’s your leg, foot, or arm, elevate your injury to also minimize swelling.
- Take the medication. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can manage pain and reduce inflammation.
- Use a brace. If you have an injured joint, use a brace as a stabilizer.
- Physical therapy. PT can strengthen your injured muscles and prevent you from future injuries.
- Modify your activities. Just because you are injured doesn’t mean you have to forgo exercise all together. Choose activities that don’t strain your injury. If you have tennis elbow, go for a brisk walk for example.
- Heal completely. Make sure you are completely healed before returning to the gym. If you feel comfortable returning to the gym, start back slowly and work your way up to your initial exercise routine. Try to stick to workouts for injury prevention.
Steps to take for Filing Gym Accident Claim
Do you feel like your gym injury was caused by the negligence of the gym or by someone who worked there? Perhaps there was poorly maintained equipment or you were injured because of something that your trainer instructed you to do. If you feel you need to file a personal injury claim or sue the gym, you’ll need strong evidence to prove your case.
- Report the injury. Tell your trainer, a staff member, or manager as soon as the accident happens. The courts will be less likely to believe you if you don’t report the injury right away.
- Get medical care. For serious injuries, have the gym call an ambulance. Either get to a hospital or have a medical evaluation completed as soon as possible.
- Keep records. Copies of your medical records, medical bills, and receipts for out of pocket expenses will help support your personal injury case.
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Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorneys
If you were injured while exercising at a gym in or around Las Vegas, you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team of personal injury lawyers and staff who are ready to help you with your accident case. There is a lot of well-meaning legal advice out there from friends and on the Internet. While this may be informative, it is no substitute for consulting with experienced Las Vegas lawyers. You would not want to miss an opportunity to gain compensation for your injuries, and our personal injury lawyers can determine if you have a case, and provide you with the best opportunity to see it through for a positive outcome for you. Anthem Injury Lawyers invites you to schedule an appointment with us to discuss your case.
We offer free case evaluations. Our office is conveniently located in Henderson. However, we work with clients all over the Las Vegas Valley, including North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Spring Valley, Anthem, and the Strip. Contact us today for a free consultation at (702) 857-6000.
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