Factors Influencing Performance-Related Injuries among Group Exercise Instructors

• Published in: Women in sport & physical activity journal Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 125 - 142
• Main Authors: Thompson, Sharon H, Case, Alan J, Sargent, Roger G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Human Kinetics Inc 22.03.2001
• Subjects: Aerobic exercises; Athletic trainers; Exercise; Exercise personnel; Health aspects; Injuries; United States
• ISSN: 1063-6161; 1938-1581
• DOI: 10.1123/wspaj.10.1.125

Group exercise instructors are at particular risk for performance-related injuries because many teach multiple classes each day where they repetitively demonstrate exercise moves. To assess performance-related injuries, a paper-pencil survey was mailed to 1000 randomly selected American Council on Exercise certified group exercise instructors. Questionnaire respondents included 386 professionally certified female instructors from 48 states. Most injuries reported (77%) were of the lower extremity (feet, knee, calf, thigh, shin, ankle, hip). Less than one-fourth of the injuries (23%) were of the trunk or upper body (shoulder, arm, back). The three most commonly reported injury sites were the foot (13.1%), knee (12.5%), and back (9.5%). The three most common types of injury reported were general inflammation (20.7%), muscle strain or sprains (19.6%), and stress fractures (16.8%). Two independent variables were significantly associated with rates of injuries: obligatory exercise scores (p = .0028), and reports of a past eating disorder (p = .0007). Group exercise instructors are at particular risk for injury to the lower body. Those instructors with exercise and eating-related disorders are especially prone to activity-related injuries.