Musculoskeletal status of men and women who entered a fitness programme.

The musculoskeletal status at entry into a fitness programme and the incidence of injuries during the first four months of the programme were evaluated in 991 men and women who were aged 20-63 years. At entry, about half of the subjects reported having received treatment for musculoskeletal ailments previously, or that currently they were experiencing musculoskeletal pain and/or discomfort, and about one-third of the subjects reported one or more movement limitations. New injuries during the first four months of the programme were reported by 38% of subjects, with an average duration of impairment of 3.8 weeks, and 43% of those who were injured sought medical treatment. The most frequent type, location, and cause of injury were "joint sprains/strains" (66%), the lower leg (70%), and jogging (33%), respectively. Musculoskeletal problems (previous treatment, current pain or discomfort or movement limitations) in the leg did not predict leg injuries during the programme, but back problems did predict back injuries. Age, sex, body mass index, a parental history of musculoskeletal disease, a sporting history, and the frequency of vigorous exercise during the first four months did not predict injury. The study emphasized: first, the vulnerability of previously-sedentary persons to musculoskeletal injury and the consequent need for care in the management of fitness programmes; secondly, the need for the evaluation of such programmes if they are to have a rational rather than an intuitive basis; and thirdly, the need for epidemiological research on the musculoskeletal system as a basis for systematic efforts, partly through education and ergonomics, to reduce wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system.