The New York Times reports that from 1990 to 2007, nearly a million Americans wound up in emergency rooms
with weight-training injuries. Wait, there's more: weight training injuries increased more
than 48 percent in that period, and 63 percent for women. What's the problem? Gravity, mainly. The Times reports that most injuries involved people dropping weights on themselves; only 14 percent of injuries were muscle pulls and overexertion, and more than 90 percent of the injuries occurred during use of free weights
rather than weight machines. What to do? Start by read the Mayo Clinic's advice on safe training with weights.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I well recall the golden days of southern California beaches with weight pits on the beach, restaurants that catered to the lifters, where you knew everyone in the gym and everybody was helping everybody else get ready for the next contest, the incredible commradery and friendships, back when “Arnold (no last name necessary) was god…days when few other that bodybuilders and powerlifters entered a gym.
Now gyms have become part of the social scene. People are going there to be seen, to meet people, talk and hang out around the weights and machines.
Those who are conentrating on lifing will be fine and those who are cruising for a date need to be careful.
A basic rule of thumb for all sports is if your not really serious about the sport, be careful and it might even be wise to stay off the field while the big boys are playing.
namaste
Don’t be a dumbbell. Lift what’s comfortable and not to impress anyone. There”s too many people that’s gone from the club bar to the weight bar too soon.
If your going to test your weight capability, have some spotters there, especially with free weights. Check out you-tube to see how others have gone beyond their ability. Make sure your able to safely handle a weight before adding more on, and add the smaller weights to gradually work yourself up to more weight.
Also perform each exercise as instructed, being turned or twisted the wrong way can cause an injury. The best thing though is at least your making an attempt to stay healthy, without pills or gimics….
See it all the time, lift too heavy weight without safety collars in place. Injury quick time.