It will surprise no-one familiar with the relentless whir of a treadmill to
learn they were once used to a punish inmates in 19th century British
workhouses.
Now, of course, no self-respecting gym is without one. They are comfortably
the best-selling piece of gym equipment in the US.
They appeal to everyone from amateurs to Olympians, if nothing else,
because it may seem a far more comfortable option than pounding the streets in
the depth of winter.
But how safe are they?
The question has been raised by the sudden death of Silicon Valley
entrepreneur, Dave Goldberg, who was found lying next to a machine at a Mexican
resort.
The SurveyMonkey chief executive had slipped, banged his head and later
died of his injuries.
Treadmills were used as a form of punishment in Britain during the 19th century
About 24,000 people were admitted to US hospitals last year with
treadmill-related injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
estimates, with slips and strains the most common causes.
But deaths are rare, with 30 reported deaths over a 12-year period to 2012,
according to the CPSC, and not all of these are caused by hazards specific to
treadmills. Some people suffer heart attacks from the exercise, for example.
Indeed, you are more likely to be killed by lightning than by exercising on
a treadmill. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 261 people died in the US
after being struck by lightning between 2006 and 2013.
Children, however, are at particular risk.
The daughter of US boxer Mike Tyson died after becoming entangled in the
cable of a treadmill, and there are numerous cases of children suffering severe
friction burns after trapping fingers and hands in the revolving belt.
Australia has even launched a public campaign on the dangers of treadmills
to young children.
Regardless of risks, experts say exercise is better than inactivity
Few gym companies in the UK approached for information responded, but LA
fitness said that the number of people injured on treadmills was "low -
just 2% of all our accidents".
The company recommends being properly inducted on machines, knowing the
safety features, having water at hand and not looking at your feet when you are
running as among the best ways to stay safe.
And any inherent risks in with exercise need to be contrasted with the
risks of inactivity.
Advice on exercising can appear confusing - one recent report suggested that intensive training may be as bad
as not jogging at all.
But World Health Organization advice remains that adults should do at least
75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.
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