Experts say that exercise is a part of life and it is good for the health. However, it should be done in moderation and in the presence of a fitness instructor.
The death of David Goldberg on a treadmill at a resort in Mexico was tragic and shocked his peers. While the rate of deaths related to treadmills is rare, focus was placed on the rising number of exercise-related injuries.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), the growing interest of Americans to sports and exercise comes with risks. In 2012, around 460,000 people were brought to emergency rooms from both exercise and exercise equipment-related injuries. In some cases like that of Mr. Goldberg's, it can be fatal.
Mr. Goldberg, 47, died on Friday after falling from a treadmill while on vacation in Punta Mita, Mexico, Market Watch reports.
The Electronic Injury Surveillance System by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that treadmill-related injuries were number one in their rank. In 2014, there were 24,400 injuries related to treadmills in emergency rooms compared to 23,900 and 24,600 injuries in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Around 30 were reported to have died while using treadmills between 2003 and 2012.
"This is very uncommon. This is a horrible accident, not an epidemic of people falling on treadmills," Dr. Charles Lawrence, chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn told New York Times.
Overall, treadmills caused the single largest number of injuries in the data gathered. Around 62,700 total injuries were reported to be caused by exercise equipment including swimming pools, weights, and trampolines.
However, these data should not hinder individuals from exercising for it still has many health benefits to the body. Sports enthusiasts as well as health practitioners are recommending to exercise in the presence of a trained professional to avoid injuries related to exercise equipment.
