[Are fitness centres part of the health care sector?].

INTRODUCTION

Disease in the musculoskeletal system accounts for the largest proportion of chronic disease in Denmark, and the associated costs amount to billions of kroner every year. Prevention and treatment have focussed on exercise and training. Training in fitness centres is one of the most popular forms of exercise in Denmark and the number of users is increasing rapidly. We suspect that musculoskeletal problems are common among members of fitness centres, and that good communication between the centres and the health care sector would optimize treatment. The purpose of the present study is to describe the extent of musculoskeletal problems among members of fitness centres and the degree of communication between the centres and the health care sector.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information regarding age, sex, musculoskeletal complaints, possible treatment, and whether there had been any communication between health care providers and the fitness centres before or during the period of training was collected among members of five fitness centres in Denmark.

RESULTS

485 (94%) out of a total of 516 members participated in the study. 56% reported that they had one or more musculoskeletal problem when joining the centre. Out of these, 77% stated that musculoskeletal problems were the main or a contributing reason for joining the centre. More than half the participants with musculoskeletal complaints had received some kind of treatment within the previous year. However, communication between health care providers and fitness centres was uncommon.

CONCLUSION

The fitness sector is growing rapidly and more than 50% of members suffer from musculoskeletal problems. Most of these also receive treatment for their problems but there is very little and almost no formal communication between the health care sector and the fitness centres.